BANCROFT    LIBRARY 


THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE. 


THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 


OR, 


LIFE  AMONG  THE  SIOUX. 


BY 


MRS.  SARAH  L.  LARIMER. 


I  beheld  the  westward  marchers 
Of  the  unknown  crowded  nations. 
All  the  road  was  full  of  people, 
Kestless,  struggling,  toiling,  striving. 

LONGFELLOW. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

CLAXTON,  REMSEN  &  HAFFELFINGER, 
819  &  821  MARKET  STREET. 

18V 1. 

EV1 

\     TLO 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  tho  year  1869,  by 

CLAXTON,  REMSEN  &  HAFFELFINGER, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 

STEREOTYPED  BY  J.  FAGAN  fc  SOX.  PRINTED  BT  MOORE  BROS. 


1 176-78 


TO 

of  tlu  We#tt 

THIS  NARRATIVE  IS  INSCRIBED  BY   ONE  WHO 

COUNTS  MANY  FRIENDS   AMONG   THEM, 

AND  CLAIMS  A   HOME  IN  THEIR 

PROSPEROUS  LAND. 

S.  L.  L. 


PREFACE. 


ORE  than  five  years  have  elapsed  since  the  great 
Indian  War  of  the  plains  commenced,  by  the 
raid  of  a  band  of  roving,  hostile  Indians  upon  a  small 
company  of  emigrants  that  were  en  route  to  the  gold 
regions  of  Idaho. 

The  attack  was  at  Little  Box-Elder  Creek,  in 
Idaho  Territory.  I  was  of  that  unfortunate  com 
pany;  and,  after  this  interval,  which  has  brought 
desolation  and  death  among  the  frontier  people,  I 
have  endeavored  to  narrate  briefly  my  experience 
with  the  Indians,  and  to  record  some  observations 
of  Indian  life  and  character. 


Til 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAOI 

EARLY  HISTORY  —  HOME  IN  KANSAS  —  JOURNEY  TO  THE 

PLAINS  —  SCENERY  BY  THE  WAY.          ...  7'' 


CHAPTER  II. 

JULESBURG —  THE    EPHEMERAL    EXISTENCE    OF   A 
—  A  STORY  OF  AN  INDIAN  CHIEF 


CHAPTER  III. 

JOURNEY  TO  FORT  LARAMIE  —  COURT-HOUSE  ROCK  — 
CHIMNEY  ROCK — COLD  CREEK  —  INDIAN  VISITS  —  ABO 
RIGINAL  ETIQUETTE  —  REFLECTIONS  UPON  INDIAN 
CHARACTER  —  JOURNEY  TO  LITTLE  BOX-ELDER  CREEK  29 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CROSSING  OF  LITTLE  BOX-ELDER  CREEK  —  SUDDEN  AP 
PEARANCE  OF  INDIANS  —  PREPARATION  FOR  DEFENCE 
— TOKITCHEY'S  ASSURANCE  OF  FRIENDSHIP — THEIR 
SINGULAR  CONDUCT  —  THE  ATTACK,  AND  PLUNDER  OF 

THE  WAGONS 39 

is 


X  CONTENTS. 

tA0i 

CHAPTER  Y. 

ESCAPE  TO  AN  EMIGRANT  TRAIN  —  BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD 

—  PRECAUTION    OF    EMIGRANTS  —  ARRIVAL    AT    FORT 
DEER-CREEK .      49 

CHAPTER  VI. 

JOURNEY  IN  CAPTIVITY  — ESCAPE  OF  LITTLE  MARY  — 
CROSSING  OF  THE  NORTH  PLATTE  RIVER  —  FIRST  EN 
CAMPMENT —  INDIAN  HILARITY 58 

CHAPTER  VII. 

CONTINUATION  OF  THE  JOURNEY  —  SECOND  ENCAMP 
MENT—INDIAN  COOKERY,  AND  CHAGRIN— SINGULAR 
AND  THREATENING  CONDUCT  OF  THE  CHIEF,  AND  HIS 
EARLY  HISTORY 74 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

CONTINUATION  OF  THE  JOURNEY  —  THIRD  ENCAMPMENT 

—  FLIGHT  WITH  THE  CHILD  —  EXTREME  THIRST  —  DIS 
COVERY  OF  WATER —  INDIANS  —  JOURNEY  ALONE         .      83 

CHAPTER  IX. 

A  SCANT  MEAL  —  A  DISCOVERY  —  BEAUTIFUL  EFFECT  OF 
THE  MIRAGE  UPON  THE  SCENERY  —  ARRIVAL  IN  SIGHT 
OF  THE  PLATTE  — GRAND  SCENERY  —  JOYFUL  DISCOV 
ERY  OF  FRIENDS  —  BURIAL  OF  LITTLE  MARY  .  .  98 

CHAPTER  X. 

EECROSSING  THE  PLATTE  —  MEETING  WITH  MY  HUSBAND 

—  DEATH    OF  LIEUTENANT    BROWN  —  A   REFRACTORY 
INDIAN  WIFE  — DEATH  OF  CAPTAIN  RYNHEART  — THE 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PAGB 

WHITE  PRINCESS —  NARRATIVE  OF  MRS.  MORTON,  MRS. 
EWBANKS,  AND  MISS  ROPER  —  EXECUTION  OF  INDIANS 

—  SUDDEN    ATTACK  —  DEATH    OF     CAPTAIN     FOUTS  — 
VARIOUS  INCIDENTS 116 

CHAPTER  XL 

NARRATIVE  OF  JAMES  P.  KIMBALL  AND  FAMILY  —  ELIZA 
BETH  BLACKWELL —  MORMON  EXPERIENCE  —  INDIAN 
KINDNESS  —  DESTRUCTION  OF  MR.  FLETCHER  AND  FAM 
ILY —  ABDUCTION  OF  MISS  FLETCHER  —  NARRATIVE  OF 
MR.  JONES  AND  FAMILY  —  THE  MINNESOTA  CAPTIVES 

—  HERMIT  OF  THE  GILA 141 

CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  PARTICULARS  OF  THE  FORT  PHILIP  KEARNEY  MAS 
SACRE  161 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

SIOUX  HISTORY  —  INDIAN  WOMEN  AND  CHILDREN  —  SIN 
GULAR  SUPERSTITION  —  COPPER-RIVER  INDIANS  —  IN 
DIAN  BEAUTY  AND  DECORATIONS  —  INDIAN  PAINTING 

—  DISGUSTING  HABITS  —  SIGNS  AND  GESTURES     .  .   175 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

INDIAN  VILLAGE  UPON  THE  MOVE — DOGS  MADE  USEFUL 
—  EDUCATING  OF  THE  YOUTH  —  INDIAN  MANNERS  — 
SEVERE  ORDEAL  —  INDIAN  COURTSHIP  —  MURDER  OF 
AN  INDIAN  GIRL  — AN  INDIAN  WIFE  — SCALP  DANCE  191 


CHAPTER  XY. 

BULL  DANCE 203 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

PAQH 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  INDIANS'  SENSES — A  LEGEND  OF  THE  MORNING 
STAR  —  INDIAN  STOICISM  —  CHIEFTAINSHIP  —  FATAL 
ISM — INCA  OF  PERU  —  RED  JACKET'S  SPEECH  —  HUMAN 

SACRIFICE  — SMOKE  DANCE 216 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

WARRIORS'  PRIDE — VENERATION  OF  AGE  — CARE  OF 
THE  AFFLICTED  —  HEROISM  —  FATE  OF  DEFORMED 
CHILDREN  — INHUMAN  TREATMENT  OF  A  CHILD  — 
MISSIONARIES'  EXPERIENCE  —  BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD 

—  CONDITION  IN  THE  SPIRIT-WORLD  —  HUMAN   SACRI 
FICE  —  POISONING  OF  SPRINGS  —  ACTION  OF  THE  ELE 
MENTS—MOURNING  FOR  THE  DEAD— PERUVIAN  TRA 
DITION  230 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SECRET  OF  INDIAN  COURAGE  —  SPEECH  OF  BLACK-HAWK 

—  EXECUTION    OF    A    MANDAN    CHIEF  —  QUESTION    OF 
CIVILIZING  INDIANS 242 

CONCLUSION.  .  249 


THE 

CAPTURE  AND   ESCAPE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY     HISTORY  —  HOME     IN    KANSAS  —  JOURNEY    TO     THR 
PLAINS  — SCENERY  BY  THE  WAY. 

Lo,  steam,  the  king  with  iron  steed, 

Sweeps  over  many  a  space, 
Where  travellers  once,  in  helpless  need, 

Met  Indians  face  to  face. 

IN  the  summer  of  1864,  long  trains  of  emigrants 
westward  bound,  extended  along  the  great  highway 
of  the  plains  from  the  Missouri  River  to  the  rugged 
mountains  of  Montana,  the  fertile  valleys  of  the  great 
basin  of  Utah,  the  rich  lands  of  the  Columbia,  and  the 
grassy  slopes  of  California.  The  sun  poured  down 
his  hottest  rays  upon  the  vast  black  hills,  oppressing 
the  hardy  traveller  and  weary  animals,  as  they  pur 
sued  their  journey. 

They  had  come  from  the  various  States  of  the  great, 

but  then  almost  divided  republic,  toiling  onward  with 

one  aim,  seeking  new  fields  of  labor  and  greater  room 

for  expansion  —  pioneers  of  civilization — the  founders 

2  13 


14  THE    CAPTURE   AND    ESCAPE; 

of  Western  empire  —  the  hardy  sons  of  toil,  whose 
footsteps  disturbed  the  beaver  in  his  quiet  haunts, 
drove  from  his  abode  the  grisly  bear,  and  limited  the 
range  of  the  buffalo  and  prairie-wolf,  braving  the  ven 
geance  of  the  savage,  and  turning  the  dreary  wilder^ 
ness  into  a  garden,  causing  the  desert  waste  to  bloom 
like  the  rose. 

At  the  camping-grounds,  as  they  stopped  for  the 
evening  rest  and  refreshment,  they  seemed  to  repre 
sent  whole  towns  of  hardy  adventurers,  filling  the 
scene  with  life  and  animation.  Gladly  they  hailed  the 
sun's  decline,  and  temporary  relief  from  clouds  of  heated 
dust,  as  the  last  rays  gilded  the  tops  of  the  rolling 
hills  that  stretched  far  away  until  they  joined  a  vast 
chain  of  mountains,  the  lofty  summits  of  which  are 
lost  in  the  purple  and  golden  hues  of  sunset.  Bright 
harbinger  of  their  future  prosperity  and  glory!  and, 
like  the  pillar  of  fire  in  the  wilderness  to  the  children 
of  Israel,  it  pointed  to  the  promised  land. 

The  pleasant  rest  of  evening,  after  the  day's  toil 
through  sun  and  dust,  came  gratefully,  as  the  cool 
winds  blew  softly  over  the  wide  prairies  or  lofty  hills, 
and  little  birds  warbled  their  evening  songs  and  flut 
tered  among  the  waving  grass  or  craggy  peaks,  and 
rosy,  laughing  children,  freed  from  the  restraints  of 
confinement  in  the  wagons,  ran  sporting  around.  The 
tired  animals,  loosed  from  their  harness,  lazily  crop 
ped  the  pastures  about  the  encampments,  while  their 
owners  prepared  the  evening  meal,  and  enjoyed  the 
twilight  hour. 


OB,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  15 

Their  road  lay  over  an  extensive  country  of  varying 
soil,  and  sometimes  the  travellers  were  compelled  to 
rest  through  the  night  where  water  and  vegetation 
were  scarce,  while  at  others  a  richly  pastured  valley 
and  abundance  of  water  invited  repose. 

Among  the  many  emigrant  trains  travelling  over 
that  great  highway  was  one  to  which  the  narrator  of 
these  adventures  belonged. 

As  I  begin  to  recount  the  pleasures  and  sorrows  of 
our  journey  across  the  plains,  my  pen  almost  falters ; 
for  much  that  to  me  is  painfully  true,  and  is  remem 
bered  with  bitter  recollection,  will  be  to  the  reader  but 
a  tale  that  is  told.  I  pause,  and  almost  fear  to  traverse, 
even  in  fancy,  the  backward  path  that  leads  through 
so  many  sad  recollections. 

In" the  year  1859  my  husband  concluded  to  remove 
from  Pennsylvania,  our  native  State,  to  the  West,  and 
we  bade  our  many  friends  adieu,  and  set  out  upon  our 
journey.  At  the  separation  from  the  home  I  loved, 
one  lingering  look  was  cast  upon  the  house  and  grounds 
of  my  earliest  and  dearest  recollections. 

Home  is  the  place  to  which  the  heart  is  apt  to  turn 
in  adversity,  and  memory  see  to  the  latest  days  of 
life,  though  oceans  should  roll  and  mountains  rise 
between;  and  the  china  horse  and  doll  are  remem 
bered  in  the  busy  throngs  of  earth. 

Our  journey  was  a  safe  one,  and,  after  making  a 
visit  with  our  friends  in  Iowa,  we  concluded  to  emi 
grate  to  Kansas,  and  were  accompanied  thither  by  my 
mother  and  her  family.  We  located  in  lola,  a  town 


16  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

situated  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Neosho  River. 
This  Territory  was  then  impoverished  by  drought, 
and  consequently  famine,  and  before  these  blighting 
influences  had  been  conquered,  the  evil  effects  of  war 
were  made  manifest. 

Conflicting  interests  divided  the  population,  and 
bitter  feelings  separated  nearest  friends.  My  husband, 
in  the  loyalty  of  his  heart,  believed  it  to  be  his  duty 
to  risk  his  life  in  defence  of  the  land  he  loved  and 
his  country's  honor.  He  was  chosen  lieutenant,  and 
in  that  capacity  served  upon  the  borders  of  his  own 
State  and  in  Missouri,  but  the  exposures  of  a  camp 
life  proved  too  severe  for  him.  He  was  taken  with  a 
serious  illness,  from  which  he  only  partially  recovered, 
and,  leaving  the  army,  he  returned  to  lola,  where  he 
remained  in  an  ailing  and  delicate  state  of  health  for 
two  years,  when  his  physicians  assured  him  that  a 
change  of  climate  was  necessary  to  the  recovery  of  his 
health ;  and  although  this  involved  the  sacrifice  of 
friends  and  home  comforts,  it  was  cheerfully  under 
taken  with  the  great  object  of  a  restoration  in  view. 

Our  first  encampment  was  made  in  the  beautiful 
valley  of  the  Neosho,  May  17th,  1864.  As  I  looked 
back  upon  my  adopted  home  far  down  in  the  valley, 
my  heart  swelled  with  contending  emotions  —  a  thou 
sand  reflections  crowded  upon  my  memory.  I  had  bid 
farewell  to  friends  and  home  to  traverse  an  unknown 
country  —  was  leaving  a  fond  parent  and  dear  brothers 
and  sisters,  to  cast  my  lot  with  the  pioneers  of  civiliza 
tion —  giving  up  the  tried  and  true  to  plunge  into 
unknown  and  untried  associations. 


OK;   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  17 

Memory  grew  busy  as  I  reclined  upon  a  little  knoll 
overlooking  the  winding  stream  that  threaded  like 
a  silver  band  the  fertile  valley  that  I  had  only  a  few 
months  before  regarded  as  a  place  for  our  home  in  our 
temporary  sojourn  upon  earth. 

As  I  contemplated,  too,  the  scene  before  me,  the 
picture  of  the  home  of  my  childhood,  long  left  to 
strangers,  came  like  a  forgotten  dream  before  my 
mind,  and  in  fancy  I  stood  once  more  upon  the  banks 
of  the  Shenango,  where,  years  ago,  even  before  my 
dear  father  was  laid  in  the  church-yard  grave,  I 
gathered  wild  flowers,  and  never  dreamed  that  future 
years  would  bring  anything  less  bright  than  the  gay 
blossoms  I  twined  amid  my  hair. 

The  next  morning  we  pursued  our  journey,  and  the 
fourth  day  arrived  at  the  city  of  Lawrence,  just  recov 
ering  from  the  dreadful  shock  of  the  merciless  mas 
sacre  and  destruction  inflicted  by  Quantrell  and  his 
murderous  band  of  marauders. 

The  ruined  walls  of  once  elegant  buildings  frowned 
dark  and  gloomy,  still  showing  the  marks  of  the 
Bmoke  of  the  consuming  fire  that  destroyed  them.  As 
we  passed  these  grim  monuments  of  man's  remorse 
less  hatred,  I  recalled  the  beautiful  lines  of  Campbell : 

"  On  Susquehanna's  side,  fair  Wyoming, 

Although  the  wild  flowers  on  thy  ruined  wall 

And  roofless  homes  a  sad  remembrance  bring 
Of  what  thy  people  did  befall, 

Yet  thou  wast  once  the  loveliest  land  of  all." 

From  Lawrence  we  travelled  across  the  country  to 
2*  B 


18  THE    CAPTUKE    AND   ESCAPE; 

the  Blue  River,  now  noted  for  Indian  outrages  perpe 
trated  upon  the  peaceful  and  unprotected  settlers,  and 
from  thence  to  Fort  Kearny,  in  Nebraska.  At  this 
place  our  road  came  to  the  southern  bank  of  the 
Platte  River. 

In  seasons  of  high  water  this  river  assumes  a  beau 
tiful  appearance;  its  broad  bosom  is  dotted  with 
islands  of  richest  verdure,  and  adorned  with  gorgeous- 
hued  flowers  and  delicate  vining  vegetation.  These 
islands  are  of  the  height  of  the  adjacent  shores,  having 
been  formed  by  the  action  of  the  changing  currents 
that  have  forced  their  way  around  them.  Some  are 
miles  in  length,  while  others  are  mere  dots  of  verdure 
on  the  breast  of  the  broad  water. 

Near  Fort  Kearny  the  emigrant  trains  from  various 
parts  of  the  country  concentrated,  and  the  scene  upon 
the  banks  of  the  river  was  beautiful  —  the  green  liter 
ally  dotted  with  white  wagon-covers,  and  the  rich 
pasture  numbered  thousands  of  horses  and  cattle,  rest 
ing  in  the  lovely  valley,  before  attempting  the  passage 
of  the  plains  and  penetrating  the  unknown  heights 
of  the  rocky  peaks  that  rise  beyond. 

From  this  place  hundreds  of  persons  with  their 
teams  and  herds  sometimes  travelled  together,  consid 
ering  that  it  was  prudent  to  be  in  large  companies 
while  pursuing  their  journey  to  the  valley  of  the  saints, 
the  mountains  of  Montana,  or  the  western  slope 
of  the  long  chain  whose  base  is  washed  by  the  waters 
of  the  Pacific  Ocean ;  while  others  were  seen  going 
iu  small  companies  or  alone,  that  the  clouds  of  dust 


OB,   LIFE   AMONG    THE   SIOUX.  19 

that  are  nowhere  more  annoying  than  on  the  plains, 
where  there  were  lines  of  wagons,  sometimes  extending 
farther  than  the  eye  could  range,  might  be  avoided. 
And  it  being  the  time  when  the  fearful  struggle  was 
agitating  our  country,  conflicting  sentiments  of  politi 
cal  disturbers  were  sometimes  met  with  violence  and 
danger,  which  it  was  also  desirable  to  avoid.  Kearny 
town  was  passed  three  miles  west  of  Fort  Kearny.  It 
was  a  small  village,  built  of  adobe  or  sunburnt  brick, 
and  was  then  in  its  pristine  glory,  but  now  is  remem 
bered  as  a  town  of  the  past. 

Our  road  lay  along  the  Platte  River  for  one  hun 
dred  and  eighty  miles,  without  a  tree  or  bush  to 
break  the  horizon  of  plain  or  sky,  except  a  few  cot- 
tonwoods  and  willows,  which  stood  like  solitary  senti 
nels  "guarding  the  magnificent  stream  that  meanders 
through  the  valley. 

Each  day  brought  its  burden  of  care  and  toil, 
while  night  offered  the  balmy  sweetness  of  repose.  At 
Cottonwood  Springs  there  was  a  settlement  of  some 
magnitude,  and  a  military  post.  There  all  the  wagons 
that  belonged  to  emigrants  were  searched  by  officers 
and  soldiers  detailed  for  that  purpose,  in  order  to 
recover  any  Government  arms  that  might  be  clandes 
tinely  carried  away.  We  continued  to  pass  ranches, 
at  intervals  of  ten  or  fifteen  miles.  These  ranch 
men  were  clever,  energetic  men,  who  dared  to  live  a 
frontier  life,  and  often  proved  themselves  to  be  of  the 
bravest  and  most  generous.  Some  of  them  aspired  to 
comfort  and  even  luxury.  As  a  general  thing,  their 


20  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

houses  were  built  one  story  high,  of  adobe  or  sod,  and 
large  enough  to  accommodate  quite  a  number  of  guests. 

In  winter,  the  ranchmen  offer  accommodations  for 
travellers  and  their- teams;  but  in  the  season  in  which 
we  made  their  acquaintance  their  hospitality  was  not  so 
much  required,  as  the  travellers  usually  slept  in  their 
wagons,  and  their  animals  were  turned  loose  to  find 
pasture. 

Many  needful  things,  however,  could  be  purchased 
of  them,  as  they  invariably  kept  useful  articles  for 
sale.  One  of  these  ranchmen,  a  Mr.  Morrow,  had, 
disregarding  the  prevailing  custom,  built  his  house 
two  stories  high;  and  having  given  attention  to  its 
completion,  produced  a  residence  in  the  far  West  that 
would  have  done  honor  to  an  Eastern  farm  of  pre 
tentious  extent. 

One  hundred  and  eighty  miles  from  Fort  Kearny 
was  the  fording  of  the  Platte,  where  the  first  Califor 
nia  emigrants  crossed,  and  in  consequence  it  is  called 
the  "Old  California  Crossing."  At  that  place  we 
overtook  seemingly  thousands  of  persons,  with  their 
flocks  and  teams,  encamped  in  the  valley;  for  that 
being  the  warmest  season,  the  snow  was  melting  on 
the  mountains,  causing  the  river  to  be  high. 

The  Platte,  though  over  a  thousand  miles  in  length, 
is  a  shallow  stream,  and  would  be  fordable  at  almost 
any  place,  if  it  were  not  for  the  quicksands,  which 
render  it  extremely  dangerous. 

It  is  subject  to  great  variations,  however  —  now  fear 
fully  rapid  and  broad,  inundating  the  adjacent  val- 


1 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  21 

ley,  then  sinking  into  an  insignificant  stream,  running 
through  a  desert ;  and,  at  other  times,  except  the  main 
channel,  disappearing  in  the  porous  strata  of  its  bed, 
leaving  only  here  and  there  a  pond  inhabited  by  small 
fish  and  tadpoles. 

Some  of  the  islands  were  covered  with  wild  fruits, 
plums  and  grapes  growing  there  in  abundance,  enjoy 
ing  the  security  of  isolation  from  the  dry  country, 
which  is  sometimes  swept  by  fire  that  destroys  every 
species  of  vegetation  that  it  meets  with  remorseless  fury. 

Sufficient  water  for  family  use  was  obtained  by 
digging  pits  two  or  three  feet  into  the  ground,  which 
soon  filled  with  cold  water  —  a  refreshing  beverage 
that  is  very  desirable  when  on  a  toilsome  journey. 

To  cross  a  wide  and  rapid  stream  without  the  aid 
of  a  boat  or  bridge,  was  a  feat  requiring  some  ingenu 
ity;  and  after  no  little  consideration,  the  men  took 
the  wheels  from  the  wagons,  and  placed  the  boxes 
upon  the  water,  and  filled  them  with  their  own  wheels 
and  former  loading,  which  was  equal  to  transforming 
the  wagons  into  boats  or  rafts.  Though  peculiar  in 
appearance,  these  newly  made  boats  soon  floated  to 
the  other  side,  transporting  very  many  persons,  of  all 
ages,  from  the  infant  at  its  mother's  breast  to  the 
bowed  form  and  silvered  head  of  the  old,  to  a  wilder 
and  less  explored  country  than  the  plains  they  had  left. 

The  day  we  crossed,  the  air  was  very  heavy  and 
oppressively  hot.  When  we  were  upon  the  river,  the 
sky  began  suddenly  to  darken,  and,  just  as  we  arrived 
upon  the  opposite  siafe,  a  gleam  of  lightning,  like  a 


22  THE    CAPTUKE   AND   ESCAPE. 

forked  tongue  of  flame,  shot  from  the  black  cloud 
that  \v£g$£&fi,w  rapidly  overspreading  the  heavens. 
This  n^|BBgJ.rc  was  followed  by  a  frightful  peal  of 
thunder^jB  HN^ed  flashes  and  peals  followed  them 
in  qui(-lvlHHBra£>;  an(^  dense  blackness  lowered 
threateningly  over  us,  almost  shutting  out  the  heights 
beyond,  a;  ng  to  encircle  us  like  prisoners  in 

the  valley  that  J%  at  their  base. 

The  vivid  flashes  that  lit  this  darkness  for  an  instant 
only  caused  the  gloom  to  seem  more  fearful,  while  the 
heavy  rolling  of  the  thunder  seemed  to  rend  the 
heavens  above  us.  Suddenly  the  cloud  burst  upon 
our  unprotected  heads  in  rain.  But  such  rain!  not 
the  gentle  droppings  of  an  afternoon  shower,  nor  the 
pattering  of  a  commonplace  storm,  but  a  sweeping 
avalanche  of  water  that  drenched  everything  at  the 
first  dash,  and,  continuing  to  pour,  seemed  to  threaten 
the  earth,  and  tempt  the  mighty  river  to  rise  and 
claim  it  for  its  own. 

The  wagons  had  been  uncovered,  that  they  might 
be  transported  with  convenience ;  consequently  there 
were  no  shelters  from  the  storm,  and  its  fury  was 
exhausted  upon  us ;  and  while  it  continued  to  pour, 
we  were  compelled  to  endure  its  violence,  but  awaited 
in  resignation  the  wrath  of  the  elements,  and  endeav 
ored  to  cherish  a  hope  of  a  bright  to-morrow  —  in 
which  we  were  not  disappointed,  for  as  the  sun  rose 
above  the  hills,  smiling  upon  the  world  as  if  nothing 
unusual  had  occurred,  and  kindly  kissed  the  lingering 
drops  from  the  blades  of  grassffcve  were  winding  our 
way  among  the  hills. 


CHAPTER  II. 

JULESBUEG  —  THE    EPHEMERAL   EXISTENCE    OF  A    CITY— A 
STORY  OP  AN  INDIAN  CHIEF. 

A  BOUT  twenty  miles  above  the  Old  California 
-£*-  Crossing  of  the  South  Platte,  the  town  of  Jules- 
burg  stood,  upon  the  south  bank  of  the  river.  This 
town  took  its  name  from  a  French  pioneer,  Jules 
Benard,  who  built  a  cabin  of  sods  close  by  the  river, 
and  lived  a  hermit's  life,  subsisting  upon  the  fish  he 
could  procure  from  the  river,  and  game  that  he  was 
able  to  shoot  upon  the  hills. 

It  was  said  his  early  years  had  been  darkened  by 
misfortune,  when  he  left  his  home  in  the  East  and 
sought  a  solace  jn  isolation. 

He  was  described  as  a  kind,  honorable  old  man. 
When  increasing  travel  on  the  road  to  the  mountains 
and  Pacific  coast  enabled  him  to  dispose  of  his  sup 
plies  of  game  and  furs,  he  dealt  honorably  by  emi 
grants,  winning  their  confidence  and  esteem,  and  finally 
held  a  position  of  trust  with  the  overland  stage  com 
pany. 

The  dreadful  mode  of  his  death  being  the  conse 
quence  of  his  refusing  to  league  himself  with  crime 
and  cruelty,  renders  it  proper  that  his  fate  be  held  in 
remembrance  by  posterity. 

A  desperado,  named  Slade,  who  afterward  distin 
guished  himself  as  a  bftidit  in  the  Rooky  Mountains, 


24  THE   CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

and  was  executed  by  a  vigilance  committee  in  Vir 
ginia  City,  Montana,  in  1863,  made  a  haunt  for  crime 
in  the  vicinity  of  Jules7  home.  His  house  soon  became 
a  scene  of  robbery  and  theft,  and  against  such  out 
rages  Jules  protested,  positively  refusing  to  become  a 
party  or  accomplice  in  it.  For  this  courageous  resist 
ance  the  old  man  lost  his  life. 

With  a  fiendish  barbarity  that  no  Indian  can  outdo, 
Slade,  with  a  party  of  his  comrades,  went  to  the  her 
mit's  house  in  the  night,  and,  finding  him  unsuspect 
ing  and  unarmed,  bound  him  with  strong  cords,  and 
commenced  to  mutilate  his  body  —  first  cutting  off  his 
nose,  then  his  fingers,  toes,  and  ears — and  continued 
to  disjoint  him  until  death  mercifully  rescued  him 
from  their  demon  hands. 

The  town  that  bore  his  name  has  been  destined,  like 
its  founder,  to  suffer  great  changes.^  In  February, 
1865,  it  was  burned  by  Indians,  commanded  by  a 
noted  warrior  called  Little  Dog.  An  effort  was  made 
by  our  soldiers,  who  were  stationed  in  a  camp  near 
Julesburg,  to  repulse  the  enemy  and  protect  the  place, 
but  they  were  unsuccessful,  and  twenty-five  soldiers 
were  killed.  Fort  Sedgwick  was  soon  afterward 
erected  near  its  ruins,  and  the  subsequent  year  a  town 
was  built  four  miles  to  the  east,  near  the  Nebraska 
line,  and  named  Julesburg.  The  growth  of  this  town, 
however,  was  not  flourishing,  for  the  Great  Pacific 
Railroad  caused  another  town  to  be  suggested,  which 
was  also  called  Julesburg.  This  town  was  destined  to 
become  quite  a  prodigy  in  growth  and  wickedness. 

Within  the  short  space  of  six  weeks  it  sprang  into 


OK,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  25 

existence,  and  covered  an  area  of  three  hundred  acres. 
Of  twelve  hundred  houses,  nine  hundred  were  saloons. 
Over  the  streets,  that  had  scarcely  ceased  to  be  paths 
in  the  wilderness,  Government  trains  passed,  bound 
for  distant  frontier  forts.  Railway  employes,  with 
long  lines  of  wagons  containing  implements  and  neces 
saries  for  the  great  work  going  on  farther  west ;  ox- 
trains,  en  route  for  the  gold  regions,  transporting  mer 
chandise  ;  drivers  flourishing  long  whips,  and  shouting 
with  all  the  force  of  their  powerful  lungs — kept  up  a 
varying  procession ;  and  the  vile  exhilarant  called 
whisky  was  freely  used,  and  aided  much  in  causing 
the  wild  excitement. 

Denver,  when  in  its  greatest  excitement,  did  not 
equal  the  progress  of  this  place.  A  person  unac 
customed  to  Western  phenomena  cannot  realize  the 
confusion  that  prevailed. 

The  majority  of  the  nine  hundred  saloons  were 
devoted  to  gambling,  and  most  of  the  known  games 
on  the  earth  were  played  there.  Every  device  by 
which  money  could  be  lost  or  squandered  was  rife, 
and  recklessness  and  prodigality  reigned. 

There  was  no  law,  not  even  a  respectable  vigilance 
committee;  and  being  out  of  the  pale  of  recognized 
authority,  except  the  military,  which  seemed  to  fear  and 
tremble,  terrible  encounters  with  bowie-knives  and 
other  formidable  weapons  were  frequent,  and  all  the 
men  carried  firearms  to  defend  themselves  in  case  of 
an  attack.  Fancied  insults  were  often  atoned  for  with 
blood,  and  tragedies  were  daily  events.  Fortunes 
3 


26  THE    CAPTURE   AND    ESCAPE  ; 

were  lost  at  a  single  sitting  at  the  gambling  table; 
temptation  led  men  away,  in  the  flush  of  sudden  suc 
cess,  to  renewed  recklessness,  while  despair  seized 
others  and  hurried  them  to  crime. 

In  the  midst  of  these  frightful  excesses  a  corrupt 
power  was  born,  and  added  despotism  to  confusion. 
A  band  of  desperate-minded  men  proclaimed  them 
selves  law-abiding  citizens,  and  proceeded  to  form  a 
code  of  laws  for  the  benefit  of  the  city  government, 
and  organized  a  bogus  court  to  dispense  justice,  or, 
properly,  injustice. 

A  grievous  tax  was  levied,  and,  in  many  instances, 
collected  by  coercion,  and  a  license  was  required  on  all 
business  and  labor,  no  exceptions  being  made  in  favor 
of  even  the  few  poor  laboring  women,  some  of  whom, 
alas!  were,  by  this  unreasonable  taxation,  driven  to 
desperation. 

Drugged  liquors  were  given  to  teamsters  and  others 
whose  wages  were  sufficiently  tempting  to  excite  the 
cupidity  of  some  of  these  desperadoes ;  they  were  then 
arrested  for  drunkenness  or  some  other  crime,  and  hur 
ried  to  prison,  and  there  robbed  of  their  hard-earned 
money,  and,  in  some  cases,  beaten  and  threatened  with 
violence  if  they  revealed  the  facts,  or  even  entered  the 
town  after  being  released  from  prison. 

But,  notwithstanding,  men  generally  followed  the 
inclinations  of  their  own  hearts,  and  the  boldest  took, 
as  it  were,  their  lives  in  their  hands,  and  bravely  dared 
consequences. 

A  theatre  was  established,  where  a  motley  audience, 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  27 

dressed  in  every  conceivable  fashion,  and  of  every  grade 
of  character  but  the  pure,  came  together  nightly  to  wit 
ness  melodramas  no  less  startling  than  their  own  lives. 

If  ever  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  might  claim  a 
field  rife  in  iniquity,  since  the  days  when  the  great 
Baptist  cried  from  the  wilderness  of  Judea,  "  Repent 
ye,  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand,"  surely  this 
was  one.  Missionaries  are  sent  over  the  stormy  seas  to 
learn  the  languages  of  dusky  nations  that  sit  in  dark 
ness,  that  they  may  be  able  to  proclaim  to  them  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation ;  but  those  of  our  own  nation, 
speaking  our  own  language,  and  having  the  smothered 
seed  of  Christian  knowledge  in  their  hearts  through 
the  dim  recollection  of  early  teachings,  rush  to  ruin, 
without- heeding  the  loving  warning,  "Repent  ye,  why 
will  ye  die  ?  "  Yet  be  it  said  for  the  Western  prairies, 
as  a  general  thing,  their  towns  are  not  churchless. 

The  questionable  advancement  of  Julesburg  was  of 
short  duration.  Like  its  predecessors,  it  has  sunk  into 
insignificance.  As  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  pro 
gressed,  other  towns  sprang  into  existence  farther  West, 
and  divided  its  prosperity,  until  the  inhabitants,  seeing 
the  futility  of  remaining  at  Julesburg,  followed  the 
work,  and  the  city  of  prodigy,  that  passed  from  infancy 
to  old  age  in  the  short  space  of  a  few  weeks,  having 
polled  in  the  mean  time  four  thousand  votes,  vanished 
like  a  morning  dew,  and  the  ground  was  almost  deserted 
in  three  months  from  the  time  of  its  commencement. 

This  ephemeral  city,  whose  glory  was  so  short,  was 
located  on  a  sandy  plain,  with  a  few  hillocks  rising 
around,  and  some  craggy  heights  visible  in  the  neigh- 


28  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE. 

borhood  toward  the  north,  and  the  Platte  River,  two 
miles  distant,  to  the  southward. 

A  story  is  told  of  two  Indian  chiefs,  Spotted  Tail 
and  Big  Mouth,  meeting,  at  Julesburg,  a  member  cf 
the  English  Parliament,  who,  like  themselves,  had 
come  to  see  the  city  that  had  flashed  into  existence  in 
the  Western  wilderness,  where  a  few  days  before  the 
prairie-wolf  lay  safely  in  its  haunts,  and  the  buffalo 
grazed  upon  its  favorite  pastures. 

The  English  lord  and  his  party  determined  to  visit 
the  red  man's  lodge,  and,  taking  an  interpreter,  they 
departed  under  the  escort  of  the  chiefs,  who,  believing 
their  guests  were  persons  of  distinction,  tendered  them 
every  honor,  and  the  best  entertainment  their  camp 
afforded.  Big  Mouth,  being  especially  interested  with 
the  courteous  visitors,  begged  that  the  English  lord 
would  accept  a  memento  of  his  kind  feelings  which 
could  be  carried  beyond  the  great  waters.  To  this  the 
nobleman  assented,  when,  behold!  the  proud  chieftain 
led  forward  a  young  squaw,  his  daughter,  and  offered 
her  in  marriage ;  but,  being  the  husband  of  a  fair  lady, 
with  many  thanks  and  some  embarrassment  the  gen 
tlemanly  stranger  declined  the  precious  gift. 

Cheyenne  City  stands  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
miles  west  of  Julesburg.  In  its  commencement  it 
flourished  after  the  style  of  its  predecessor,  but,  after 
some  reverses,  settled  down  into  a  moderately  thrifty 
town. 

But  I  have  diverged  quits  far  enough  from  my  nar 
rative,  as  it  was  not  the  history  of  the  far  West  that 
was  intended  for  this  volume. 


CHAPTER    III. 

ASH  HOLLOW  —  COURT -HOUSE  ROCK  —  CHIMNEY  ROCK  — 
COLD  CREEK  —  INDIAN  VISIT  —  ABORIGINAL  ETIQUETTE  — 
REFLECTIONS  UPON  INDIAN  CHARACTERS  —  FORT  LARA- 
MIE  —  JOURNEY  TO  LITTLE  BOX-ELDER  CREEK. 

mWENTY-FIVE  miles  from  California  Crossing, 
J-  we  came  to  Ash  Hollow,  where  General  Harney, 
some  years  before,  had  immortalized  his  name  by  an 
indiscriminate  slaughter  of  Indians  —  men,  women, 
and  children  —  supposed  to  be  hostile. 

Court-house  Rock  is  probably  the  next  object  of 
interest  that  attracts  the  attention  of  the  traveller.  It 
stands  out  in  bold  relief,  several  miles  from  the  road 
that  leads  from  the  Crossing  to  Fort  Laramie,  and  not 
far  from  a  stream  of  water  called  Pumpkin  Creek, 
\vhich  is  supplied  from  the  numerous  springs  and 
snows  of  the  mountains,  and  is  always  flowing  with 
abundance  of  pure  water.  In  its  valley  timber  is 
found  in  sufficient  quantities  to  meet  the  demand. 
Eight  miles  to  the  southward  of  our  camp,  in  glorious 
grandeur,  was  seen  this  result  of  a  wonderful  freak  of 
nature,  and  object  of  much  curiosity.  It  rises  grandly 
from  its  base  at  the  level  of  the  water  in  the  neigh 
boring  creek,  six  hundred  feet  to  its  summit,  in 
the  form  of  a  pyramid,  reminding  one  of  the  work 
3*  29 


SO  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE 


of  Titans,  or  antedeluvian  giants,  that  might  have 
erected  it  for  a  lookout  from  which  to  watch  and 
guard  the  surrounding  country,  or  for  a  monument  to 
survive  their  day  and  record  their  existence. 

The  view  from  its  summit  is  extremely  grand.  To 
the  northwest  can  be  seen  the  strange  and  singular 
outlines  of  Chimney  Rock,  and  the  rolling  hills 
beyond.  To  the  southward,  immediately  at  its  base,  is 
a  chasm  or  abyss,  in  the  depths  of  which  the  view  is 
lost  in  darkness. 

Court-house  Rock  is  a  compound  or  composite  of 
clay  and  sandstone,  and  is  so  soft  as  to  be  easily  de 
tached  by  cutting  instruments,  and  many  persons  have 
availed  themselves  of  this  advantage  by  making  upon 
its  steep  sides  steps  by  which  to  ascend  to  the  summit. 
It  is  a  perilous  undertaking,  though  many  have  suc 
ceeded  in  accomplishing  the  feat,  as  their  names  bear 
testimony,  for  the  steep  sides  were  covered  with  names 
in  all  styles  of  chirography. 

When  this  rock  is  seen  from  a  few  miles'  distance, 
it  appears  to  those  unacquainted  with  rarefied  atmo 
sphere,  peculiar  to  the  plains,  to  be  near  and  of  insig 
nificant  dimensions;  thus  deluding  the  travellers 
who  sometimes  undertake  to  walk  over  to  examine  it ; 
but  the  mistake  is  eventually  discovered,  and  the  en 
thusiastic  investigator  returns  to  his  camp  in  disgust 
with  the  deceptive  appearance  of  the  country,  and 
postpones  his  visit  until  a  more  suitable  conveyance 
than  he  had  engaged  can  be  procured. 

Court-house  Rock  derived  its  name  from  its  fan- 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  31 

cied  resemblance  to  some  magnificent  ruin.  From 
some  views  it  strongly  reminds  one  of  the  pictures  of 
old  cathedrals,  or  frowning  battlements  of  the  struc 
tures  built  in  the  dark  ages,  which  have  lost  a  portion 
of  their  symmetry  by  the  ruthless  hand  of  time. 

Eighteen  miles  west  of  Court-house  Rock  is 
Chimney  Rock,  an  equally  curious  phenomenon,  and 
is  formed  of  the  same  material  —  sand  and  clay.  It 
is  in  the  form  of  a  shaft  or  pillar,  and  springs  from 
the  apex  of  a  cone,  and  is  three  hundred  and  eighty 
feet  in  height.  Chimney  Rock  stands  five  hundred 
feet  from  a  bluff,  of  which  it  seems  to  have  once 
formed  a  portion.  At  its  base  is  a  stratum  of  lime 
stone.  This  rock  is  gradually  crumbling  away. 

Fifteen  miles  farther  west  is  Fortification  Rock, 
near  Scott's  Bluffs.  A  spur  from  Scott's  Bluffs  ex 
tends  to  the  river,  compelling  the  traveller  to  leave 
the  stream  and  make  a  detour  southward. 

The  passage  through  the  bluffs  is  very  intricate 
and  dangerous  for  teams  to  pass,  and  at  times  the 
drifting  sands  almost  obscure  the  high  walls  which 
rise  several  hundred  feet  on  either  side.  Cedar  and 
pine  trees  are  seen  growing  from  the  crevices,  or  stand 
ing  apparently  upon  the  naked  rocks,  even  to  the  sum 
mit  of  these  rugged  walls.  To  a  person  below,  these 
trees  seem  to  be  insignificant  shrubs,  but  upon  near  in 
spection  they  are  found  to  be  trees  of  large  dimensions. 

Near  these  bluffs,  Captain  Shoeman  has  since  erected 
Fort  Mitchell,  one  of  the  most  commodious  forts  in 
the  West. 


32 

Twenty  miles  farther  west,  we  came  to  Cold  Creek, 
a  beautiful  stream,  about  thirty  feet  wide,  which  emp 
ties  into  the  North  Platte.  The  waters  of  this  creek 
keep  their  own  side  of  the  channel  for  several  miles 
before  they  mingle  with  the  muddy  current  of  the 
Platte. 

Cold  Creek  abounds  with  fine  trout,  which,  being 
unaccustomed  to  the  white  man's  mode  of  fishing,  are 
easily  decoyed  into  seines,  and  thousands  of  the  unsus 
picious  creatures  may  be  caught  in  an  hour.  At  our 
camp  on  this  creek  we  received  a  visit  from  an  Indian 
chief  called  Good  Horse. 

This  Indian  was  tall,  well-proportioned,  and  grace 
ful  in  appearance,  and  by  frequently  visiting  military 
stations  he  had  acquired  some  knowledge  of  the  Eng 
lish  language  and  of  civilized  manners.  His  dress 
consisted  of  a  buffalo-robe,  worn  loosely  around  his 
body,  a  soldier's  hat  upon  his  head,  and  moccasins  upon 
his  feet. 

The  hat  he  wore  through  respect  for  the  white 
strangers.  In  his  hand  he  carried  a  sword ;  but  per 
ceiving  that  the  children  feared  this  weapon,  he  placed 
it  upon  the  ground,  and  at  the  same  time  stated  that 
he  was  a  friend  to  the  white  man. 

Supper  was  offered  him,  but,  fearing  poison,  he 
refused  to  partake  until  he  had  seen  the  food  tasted ; 
then,  with  many  thanks,  he  ate  what  was  given  him, 
and,  feeling  reassured,  stripped  his  horse  of  its  saddle 
and  bridle,  and  turned  its  head  toward  his  lodges, 
about  a  mile  distant,  when  the  sagacious  animal  at 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  33 

once  set  out  for  home,  where  its  arrival  was  under 
stood  to  be  a  signal  from  the  chief  for  his  family  to  join 
him. 

His  three  wives  soon  came  to  the  camp,  when  Good 
Horse,  to  display  his  knowledge  of  etiquette  and  civ 
ilized  customs,  introduced  them  to  each  one  of  the 
company ;  after  which  ceremony  he  intimated  that 
they  would  eat  a  little;  for  "Indian  women,"  said 
he,  "are  always  hungry."  Supper  was  immediately 
set  for  them,  of  which  they  heartily  partook,  and, 
rising  from  the  ground,  they  promptly  informed  us 
that  they  would  eat  at  the  other  fires  too. 

It  seems  to  be  a  prominent  trait  in  Indian  character 
never  to  refuse  an  invitation  to  eat;  and  their  prompt 
ness  to  accept  invitations  to  partake  of  a  meal  has 
impressed  many  travellers  with  the  belief  that  it  is 
their  peculiar  mode  of  showing  friendship. 

Darkness  had  set  in  upon  us.  The  pony  was  brought 
back.  The  chief  shook  hands  with  each  one  of  us, 
mounted  his  horse  —  which  had  been  saddled  in  the 
mean  time  by  one  of  his  wives  —  and  rode  away,  leav 
ing  his  wives  to  follow  on  foot.  Such  is  Indian  gal 
lantry. 

But  this  was  not  the  last  we  saw  of  them.  Early 
the  next  morning  they  returned,  but  were  not  as  cour 
teous  as  they  had  been  on  the  evening  previous. 

Some  presents  offered  them  were  accepted  in  silence. 
The  chief,  discovering  that  the  travellers  were  not 
inclined  to  be  as  liberal  as  he  anticipated,  told  us  he 
had  not  come  to  talk,  but  to  beg  —  the  visiting  hav- 

C 


34  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

ing  been  done  the  evening  before;  and  requested 
that  we  would  be  as  prompt  and  liberal  as  possible, 
and  refrain  from  annoying"  his  wives  by  talking  to 
them. 

They  asked  for  breakfast,  and,  after  eating,  solicited 
some  food  to  carry  to  their  children.  They  seemed 
particularly  fond  of  milk,  and  when  the  supply  was 
exhausted,  insisted  that  more  be  procured. 

We  had  read  much  of  the  noble  character  of  the 
red  man,  of  his  lofty  bearing,  scorn,  pride,  etc.,  all 
of  which  our  acquaintance  with  Good  Horse  and  his 
family  failed  to  confirm. 

Seventeen  miles  from  Cold  Creek  was  a  ranch,  and 
five  miles  farther  west  Fort  Laramie  is  located.  This 
fort  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  country.  It  is  said  the 
location  was  selected  by  some  trappers  for  their  head 
quarters  and  a  trading-post,  where  they  kept  up  a 
traffic,  many  years  ago,  with  the  Indians.  Although 
it  was  in  an  exposed  position,  it  was  not  surrounded 
by  an  enclosure.  There  was  great  simplicity,  too,  in 
its  arrangements,  and  its  regulations  were  so  well 
adapted  to  circumstances  that  the  Indians  did  not  feel 
themselves  held  at  a  distance  from  the  Government 
agents,  whose  prejudices  did  not  forbid  them  from 
taking  the  swarthy  children  of  the  wilderness  into 
their  sympathy;  and,  although  they  were  the  enemy 
they  had  left  their  homes  to  fight,  they  were  friendly 
to  them,  and  many  of  the  officers,  as  well  as  common 
soldiers,  had  taken  of  the  swarthy  daughters  for  wives. 
Though  the  Indian  women  universally  refuse  to  speak 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  35 

the  English  language,  and  are  wild  and  peculiar  in 
their  habits,  they  were  sometimes  good  housekeepers, 
and  kind  and  affectionate  to  those  around  them ;  and 
the  soldiers,  absent  from  their  dear  ones  at  home, 
doubtless  found  a  solace  in  their  company ;  and  as  the 
Indian  language  is  not  difficult  to  understand,  they 
soon  conversed  intelligibly.  To  a  stranger  the  fort 
presented  a  lively,  if  not  interesting  appearance. 
Walking,  standing,  or  sitting  in  the  shadows  of  the 
houses,  singly  or  in  groups,  could  be  seen  these  Indian 
women  and  their  children,  chatting  and  playing  with 
each  other  —  pitiable-looking  children  of  aboriginal 
descent,  half  surrounded  by  civilization,  yet  held  in 
the  lap  of  barbarity,  smiling  upon  fair  fathers,  yet 
kissed  by  swarthy  mothers.  Some  of  these  children 
were  of  fair  complexion,  with  pleasant  countenances, 
and,  under  dissimilar  circumstances,  might  have  been 
deemed  of  Saxon  descent.  They  were  dressed  in  every 
conceivable  style,  or  not  dressed  at  all,  just  as  the 
mother's  fancy  dictated.  The  skill  of  the  mother  was 
mostly  displayed  in  the  decorative  art,  and  various 
colored  paints,  glass  beads,  tin  and  brass  wire,  and 
scarlet  strings,  etc.,  were  displayed  in  confusion.  Pos 
sibly  many  a  fond  father's  heart  has  beaten  with  pride 
at  the  sight  of  his  little  son  decorated  with  feathers, 
etc.,  and  grotesquely  spotted  with  vermilion,  in  the 
style  of  an  Indian  juggler ;  and,  doubtless,  he  must 
have  felt  a  peculiar  sensation  of  satisfaction  at  behold 
ing  the  beauty  of  the  countenance,  if  a  sting  of  re 
morse  would  not  interfere  with  the  thought  of  the 


86  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

destiny  that  awaited  his  child,  when  the  Government 
should  demand  the  presence  of  its  natural  protector 
in  another  field  of  action,  when  the  Indian  mother 
would  return  to  her  own  people,  to  train  the  child  for 
war  and  revenge  against  his  father's  race.  Or  if  it  be 
a  daughter,  who  can  contemplate  the  life  she  must 
lead  ?  The  Indian  women  about  the  fort  follow  in 
their  style  of  costumes  a  sort  of  compromise  between 
the  customs  of  Indians  and  the  fashions  of  civiliza 
tion,  in  which  gaudy-colored  calico,  beads,  brass  wire, 
shawls,  buffalo  robes,  and  blankets  mingle  in  intricate 
confusion,  making  it  very  difficult  for  an  observer  to 
determine  whether  the  woman  has  on  a  dress  or  a 
calico  shirt,  whether  she  wears  a  skirt  or  leggins ;  and 
although  the  head  is  always  uncovered,  their  heavy 
black  tresses  are  usually  without  ornament.  The  hair 
is  parted  in  the  middle  of  the  head,  confined  with  two 
braids,  and  allowed  to  hang  down  behind  the  ears. 
The  parting  of  the  hair  is  always  painted  with  some 
bright-colored  paint,  which  is  also  bountifully  distrib 
uted  over  the  face  ;  and  many  of  them  display  a  star 
tattooed  upon  the  forehead ;  and  the  quantity  and 
variety  of  glass  beads  worn  around  the  neck  is  truly 
a  marvel  —  their  whole  appearance  strongly  resembling 
a  display  of  figures  in  a  museum,  or  persuading  one 
that  a  second-handed  store  had  been  appropriated  for 
their  use. 

This  fort,  like  many  others  in  the  West,  was  not 
well  supplied  with  water  —  the  Laramie  River,  on 
which  it  is  built,  being  the  only  resource.  The  parade- 


OB;    LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  37 

ground  presented  a  barren  appearance,  being  unre^ 
lieved  by  any  vegetation,  with  the  exception  of  two 
small  pine-trees  that  stood  to  the  southward,  endeav 
oring  to  retain  their  former  beauty  and  usefulness. 
They  were  objects  of  much  interest,  being  the  only 
trees  in  the  immediate  neighborhood,  except  a  little 
grove  upon  the  banks  of  the  Laramie  River  to  the 
southward  of  the  fort,  which  would  have  been  a  de 
lightful  place  of  resort  had  it  not  been  for  the  disa 
greeable  use  to  which  it  had  been  appropriated  —  a 
burying-place  for  Indian  dead.  It  had  been  used  for 
that  purpose  a  long  time,  judging  from  the  remains 
scattered  upon  the  ground  under  the  trees,  from  which 
they  had  fallen  in  the  process  of  decay,  when  leaving 
their  place  among  the  boughs  to  some  future  occupant 
to  lay  in  and  moulder  away  under  the  action  of  time 
and  the  elements,  and  to  be  displaced  in  turn  by 
decay,  leaving  the  place  again  unoccupied. 

The  fort  is  situated  on  the  river,  about  two  miles 
from  where  it  empties  into  the  North  Platte,  and  at 
the  base  of  a  succession  of  hills,  above  whose  heights 
is  seen  Laramie  Peak,  which  rises  grandly  sixteen 
thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 

Forty  miles  from  Fort  Laramie  is  Horse-shoe  Creek, 
where  had  lived  the  noted  desperado  Slade,  with  his 
wife,  a  lady  of  respectability.  At  this  place  a  fort  was 
afterward  erected  by  Captain  Marshall,  and  subse 
quently  burned  by  Indians. 

Twenty-five  miles  farther  west  is  another  stream, 
4 


38  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE. 

that  offered  a  pleasant  place  for  the.  weary  strangers' 
encampment.  Twelve  miles  still  farther  was  a  creek 
called  Laparrall ;  this  stream  was  overshadowed  by  a 
luxuriant  growth  of  timber,  and  the  lovely  valley  was 
covered  with  grass  and  dotted  with  wild  fruits  and 
flowers.  Eight  miles  from  that  place  is  the  memorable 
Littlo  Box-Elder  Creek. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CROSSING  OF  LITTLE  BOX-ELDER  —  SUDDEN  APPEARANCE 
OF  INDIANS  —  PREPARATIONS  FOR  DEFENCE  —  TOKIT- 
CHEY'S  ASSURANCES  OF  FRIENDSHIP  —  THEIR  SINGULAR 
CONDUCT  —  ATTACK  AND  PLUNDER  OF  THE  WAGONS. 


evening  of  the  12th  of  July  we  had  already 
-*-  been  many  weeks  on  our  toilsome  journey.  The 
weather  was  excessively  warm,  and  with  the  decline 
of  the  sun  we  looked  forward  to  the  cool  of  approach 
ing  night,  with  a  sense  of  relief  from  the  oppressive 
heat  of  the  day.  Slowly  our  wagons  wound  through 
the  timber  that  skirted  the  Little  Box-Elder  Creek, 
and,  crossing  the  stream,  ascended  the  opposite  bank. 
We  had  no  thought  of  danger,  nor  timid  misgivings 
on  the  subject  of  the  Indians  :  any  we  might  have  felt 
at  starting  from  home  were  all  scattered  by  the  con 
stantly  received  assurances  of  their  friendship.  At 
the  outposts  and  ranches  we  passed  we  had  heard 
nothing  but  ridicule  of  their  pretensions  to  warfare, 
and  at  Fort  Laramie,  where  reliable  information  was 
expected,  renewed  pledges  of  the  safety  of  the  road  were 
given.  At  Horse-shoe  Creek,  which  had  been  passed 
three  days  previous,  was  a  telegraph  office,  and,  in  an 
swer  to  our  inquiries,  we  received  similar  declarations 

as  to  the  quiet  and  peaceful  state  of  the  country  through 

89 


40  THE   CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

which  we  must  pass.  Being  thus  persuaded  that  fears 
were  useless,  we  entertained  none,  and  preferred  to 
travel  in  small  companies,  to  avoid  confusion  and 
dust,  that  always  attend  the  presence  and  movements 
of  a  large  emigrant  train. 

Our  train  consisted  of  eleven  persons,  five  wagons, 
and  a  herd  of  loose  stock.  The  persons  were  one  Mr. 
Kelley  and  his  wife  and  child,  a  Mr.  AVakefield,  a  Mr. 
Sharp,  and  three  hired  men,  besides  Mr.  Larimer,  our 
child,  and  myself. 

The  beauty  of  the  sunset  and  the  scenery  around 
filled  us  with  admiration  as  we  viewed  the  grand  peaks 
before  us,  tinged  in  purple  and  gold,  without  a  thought 
of  the  danger  that  was  lying  like  a  tiger  in  ambush  by 
our  path. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind  by  my  readers  that  the 
Indian  war,  which  has  since  been  carried  on  with  more 
than  usual  success  by  the  Sioux  and  their  auxiliaries, 
had  not  then  commenced,  our  train  being  the  first  one 
attacked,  and  with  it  commenced  the  war  that  has  not 
yet  been  brought  to  a  close.  Suddenly,  without  a  sound 
to  warn  us  of  danger,  the  bluffs  before  us  were  covered 
with  a  party  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  Indians, 
painted  and  equipped  for  the  war-path,  who  uttered  a 
wild  cry  and  fired  a  volley  from  their  guns  into  the  air. 

This  terrible  and  unsuspected  apparition  came  upon 
us  with  such  startling  swiftness  that  we  had  no  time 
to  make  preparations  for  defence  before  the  main  body 
halted  and  sent  out  a  small  force,  which  encircled  us 
and  stationed  themselves  at  regular  intervals,  but  at  a 


OK,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  4j 

distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the 
wagons,  thus  completely  surrounding  our  train  —  the 
larger  body  remaining  in  its  position  upon  the  eleva 
tion  in  front,  apparently  determining  upon  some  mode 
of  action. 

Our  men  immediately  halted  the  teams  and  formed 
a  corral  of  the  wagons,  and  gathered  their  arms  for 
defence,  my  husband  particularly  advising  a  deter 
mined  resistance.  His  knowledge  of  Indian  charac 
ter  had  taught  him  that  prompt  action  is  the  only 
safeguard  against  Indian  treachery.  But  feeling  con 
scious  of  our  helpless  situation,  I  remonstrated  against 
a  single  shot  being  fired,  fearing  to  provoke  an  attack, 
which,  though  probable,  was  not  a  certainty,  and 
entreated  them  to  forbear,  as  I  believed  a  successful 
defence  was  impossible  in  such  an  unequal  contest, 
and  death  would  be  certain  if  they  attempted  resist 
ance  ;  and  begging  a  conciliatory  course  as  the  only 
hope,  I  held  my  child  in  my  arms,  and  awaited  in 
breathless  anxiety  the  result. 

The  ready  facility  with  which  the  wagons  were 
corralled,  and  the  hasty  preparations  for  defence,  most 
likely  intimidated  the  savages  somewhat,  who  are 
brave  when  life  is  comparatively  safe;  but  it  is  not 
consistent  with  their  mode  of  warfare  to  expose  them 
selves  too  much,  for  they  are  chary  of  life,  always 
watchful,  and  striking  when  least  expected. 

Our  son,  little  Frank,  from  the  commencement  of 
our  journey,  had  entertained  an  ungovernable  dread 
of  the  Indians  —  a  repugnance  that  could  not  be  over- 
4* 


42 

come,  although  in  our  intercourse  with  friendly  In 
dians  I  had  endeavored  to  show  him  how  unfounded 
his  fears  were,  and  persuade  him  that  they  were  civil 
and  harmless  —  but  in  vain. 

ISTever  can  I  forget  the  expression  upon  his  counte 
nance,  when  the  savages  came  upon  us,  as  he  looked 
up  into  my  face,  saying,  "  Mother,  I  want  to  pray.7' 
It  had  been  his  custom  to  kneel  at  my  side,  in  the 
evening,  with  little  hands  folded,  and  raise  his  inno 
cent  petitions  to  our  Heavenly  Father,  whose  protect 
ing  love  seemed  nearer  to  him  in  the  wilderness  than 
in  his  own  little  chamber  at  home;  and  now  he  turned 
to  the  same  strong  arm,  and  his  pure  faith  came  like 
a  drop  of  balm  into  the  bitter  fear  and  lowering  trouble 
surrounding  us.  When  the  last  words  of  his  little 
prayer  were  ended,  he  looked  up  and  said,  "  Now, 
mother,  shall  I  go  to  sleep  ?  "  Laying  him  down  in 
the  wagon,  I  covered  his  nestling  form  under  the  bed- 
clothing,  trusting  to  conceal  him  from  the  Indians' 
sight.  Soon  after,  I  saw  my  husband  go  out  to  meet 
the  chief  and  demand  his  intentions. 

The  savage  leader  immediately  advanced,  uttering 
the  word,  "  How  !  how  !  "  and,  placing  his  hand  upon 
his  breast,  he  said  in  English :  "  Good  Indian  ; "  and, 
pointing  toward  his  men,  he  added :  "  Heap  good  In 
dian  —  hunt  buffalo,  antelope,  and  deer ;  "  then  offered 
his  hand,  with  the  usual  salutation  of  his  people, 
"  How  !  how !  "  and,  turning  in  his  saddle,  he  motioned 
for  his  men  to  advance  and  follow  his  example,  which 
they  did,  and  were  soon  crowding  around  the  wagons, 


OB,    LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  43 

nodding  and  smiling,  with  very  many  demonstrations 
of  good  will. 

This  deception  did  not  relieve  our  suspicions; 
yet  our  only  policy  seemed  to  be  in  temporizing,  in 
hope  that  assistance  might  approach;  but  this  was  a 
feeble  hope,  as  they  grew  ominously  familiar,  examin 
ing  the  mouths  of  the  horses,  and  the  manner  by  which 
the  harness  was  attached  to  them,  etc.  Though  it  was 
extremely  warm  weather,  some  of  them  affected  to 
tremble  with  cold,  offering  that  as  a  reason  why  they 
wished  to  take  goods  from  the  wagons.  Many  of 
them  were  only  partially  dressed,  the  body  being 
entirely  naked  to  the  waist,  except  a  coat  of  paint. 
Their  heads  were  invariably  uncovered,  and  their  feet 
dressed  with  moccasins. 

Many  presents  were  offered  and  accepted ;  but  some 
were  only  taken  to  cast  away.  Their  communica 
tions  were  quite  intelligible,  being  always  accompa 
nied  by  signs,  and  in  several  instances  by  the  English 
language,  which  some  of  them  seemed  to  be  quite 
familiar  with.  Being  anxious  to  preserve  a  friendly 
intercourse  as  long  as  possible,  they  were  permitted 
to  detain  us  without  remonstrance  on  our  part. 
Finally  the  chief — whom  I  will  call  Tokitcbey  — 
intimated  that  he  desired  that  the  wagons  would  go 
farther;  and  fearing  to  gain  his  displeasure  by  seem 
ing  disobedience  or  disregard  of  his  wish,  and  being 
anxious  to  escape  from  the  fearful  spot,  the  men  con 
cluded  to  move  on,  and  the  train  was  soon  in  motion, 
the  Indians  insisting  upon  assisting  to  drive  the  herd. 


44  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

When  we  had  gone  but  a  few  rods,  it  was  discovered 
that  we  were  approaching  a  deep,  rocky  glen,  in  whose 
gloomy  depths  a  murderous  attack  was  probable,  and 
from  which  escape  would  be  impossible ;  and  a  halt 
was  called.  Although  the  savages  insisted  we  should 
proceed,  we  persisted,  and  again  formed  a  corral  of 
the  wagons. 

Tokitchey,  seeing  the  futility  of  further  persistence, 
with  equal  cunning  solicited  supper  for  himself  and 
his  men,  declaring  that  when  they  had  partaken  they 
would  immediately  depart  for  the  hills,  leaving  us 
alone  in  our  encampment. 

Though  to  prepare  a  meal  for  two  hundred  and 
fifty  Indians  was  not  a  small  undertaking,  the  work 
was  soon  in  progress.  When  all  the  men  were  busily 
engaged,  the  savages,  deeming  it  a  favorable  opportu 
nity,  threw  off  their  mask  of  friendship,  and  displayed 
their  true  character  and  intentions.  At  this  mo 
ment,  Mr.  Larimer  was  engaged  in  making  a  fire,  and 
Mr.  Kelley  and  two  colored  men  were  preparing  the 
meal.  These  negroes  had  been  slaves  among  the  Cher- 
okees,  and  understood  the  Indian  character  by  personal 
observation,  and  their  fear,  at  this  time,  was  unbounded, 
and  pitiable  even  to  us  who  shared  the  danger. 

Mr.  Wakefield  and  Mr.  Taylor  were  busy  with  the 
teams.  Mr.  Sharp,  who  was  aged  and  almost  blind, 
and  was  trembling  with  fear,  had,  from  the  first,  made 
every  effort  to  gain  the  good  will  of  the  Indians,  and 
was  now  distributing  his  store  of  sugar  among  them, 
and  urging  our  men  to  move  on  in  accordance  with 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  45 

their  request.  An  Indian  approached,  and  took  a 
gun  from  near  my  side.  To  this  I  objected  in  vain. 
At  this  instant  th.ere  was  a  simultaneous  discharge  of 
arms,  which  were  followed  by  the  fearful  war-whoop 
and  hideous  shouts.  For  one  moment  there  was  seem 
ing  confusion,  but  in  another  I  perceived  that  they 
worked  with  perfect  order,  and  as  the  cloud  of  smoke 
cleared  away,  each  Indian  could  be  seen  busily  en 
gaged,  but  not  one  of  our  men  was  in  sight.  My 
impression  was  they  had  all  escaped  unhurt,  and  I  im 
mediately  determined  upon  a  course  of  action.  Well 
knowing  that  entreaties  would  be  of  no  avail  with  the 
savages,  and  any  indiscreetness  on  my  part  might 
result  in  jeopardizing  our  lives,  I  endeavored  to  sup 
press  my  fears,  and  with  an  air  of  indifference  com 
menced  to  assist  them  to  unload  the  wagon  I  was  in. 
"With  miraculous  rapidity  the  Indians  had  mounted 
into  the  wagons  and  commenced  the  work  of  distrib 
uting  and  destroying  the  contents,  using  their  toma 
hawks  to  pry  open  trunks  and  boxes,  which  they  split 
up  in  savage  recklessness.  Mrs.  Kelley  kept  her  seat  in 
the  wagon  until  her  presence  was  regarded  as  irksome, 
when  the  chief  threw  her  violently  to  the  ground  and 
dragged  her  some  distance,  while  the  terrified  child 
was  left  to  climb  from  the  wagon  and  follow  her.  I 
was  soon  told  that  my  services  were  not  required,  and 
I  was  at  liberty  to  join  my  companions.  When  walk 
ing  with  my  child  toward  my  frightened  friends, 
doubtless  some  signs  of  alarm  were  manifest  in  our 
appearance,  for  the  chief  placed  his  hand  upon  his 


46  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE; 

revolver  and  cast  a  savage,  if  not  murderous  look  upon 
us.  Fearing  his  vengeance,  we  proceeded  to  advance, 
but  instantly  I  resolved  upon  a  plan  to  escape,  and 
would  have  put  it  in  execution  but  for  the  helplessness 
of  the  child,  who,  I  feared,  would  fail  in  the  attempt. 
Yet,  notwithstanding,  we  made  a  few  steps  sidewise 
for  the  purpose  of  starting  hastily  toward  the  timber ; 
but  the  vigilant  eye  of. the  savage  chieftain  was  immedi 
ately  upon  us,  and  in  an  authoritative  manner  he  called, 
in  English,  saying,  "  Come  back!"  Realizing  the 
futility  of  a  present  effort,  I  obeyed,  and,  approaching 
the  savage,  asked  him  for  protection,  which  he  did  not 
seem  inclined  to  promise  that  we  should  have;  but, 
although  he  gave  us  no  assurance  of  kindness  that  we 
could  comprehend,  he  presented  Mrs.  Kelley  with  a 
wreath  of  gay-colored  feathers,  which  we  supposed  he 
wore  for  ornament,  when  in  reality  it  was  a  token  of 
favor  and  assurance  to  her* of  his  protecting  care.  He 
then  left  us,  in  order  to  secure  his  portion  of  the 
plunder  —  not,  however,  until  a  special  guard  had  been 
placed  near  us.  Night  came  upon  us,  and  darkness 
closed  over  the  scene  of  destruction  before  their 
arrangements  for  departure  were  completed.  The 
first  intimation  we  had  that  our  immediate  massacre 
was  not  intended  was  a  few  articles  of  clothing  pre 
sented  by  a  boy,  who  intimated  that  we  would  have 
need  for  them.  Among  the  confused  mass  of  material 
of  all  kinds  scattered  about  was  a  package  of  letters 
that  the  young  Indian  also  brought  and  gave  us, 
which  suggested  to  me  a  plan,  and  I  eagerly  accepted 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  47 

them,  to  strew  upon  the  way  if  we  should  be  taken  with 
the  Indians,  hoping  they  would  be  a  guide  for  our  pur 
suing  friends,  or  for  us,  if  we  should  escape  and  en 
deavor  to  retrace  our  steps.  Many  things  which  the 
Indians  could  not  carry  with  them  they  gathered  into 
a  pile  and  lighted.  The  light  of  the  flames  showed 
us  the  forms  of  our  captors  busily  loading  the  horses 
with  plunder  and  preparing  to  depart.  When  their 
arrangements  were  completed,  they  came  to  us  and 
signified  that  they  were  ready  to  go,  and  that  we  must 
accompany  them.  This  was  the  first  reliable  assur 
ance  they  gave  us  that  our  lives  were  not  in  imme 
diate  danger,  and  we  hailed  it  gratefully,  for  with  the 
prospect  of  life  hope  revived,  and  faith  to  believe  that 
God  had  not  forsaken  us,  and  that  we  might  yet  be 
united  to  our  friends,  who  never  seemed  dearer  than 
when  we  were  about  to  be  carried  into  captivity. 

Many  persons  have  since  assured  me  that  death 
would  have  been  preferable  to  life  with  such  pros 
pects,  saying  that  rather  than  have  submitted  to  be 
carried  away  by  savages  to  a  doubtful  doom,  they 
would  have  taken  their  own  lives  ;  but  it  is  only  those 
who  have  looked  over  the  dark  abyss  of  death  that 
know  how  the  soul  shrinks  from  meeting  the  unknown 
future.  For  while  hope  offers  the  faintest  token  of 
regard,  we  pause  upon  the  fearful  brink  of  eternity 
and  look  back  for  rescue. 

My  son,  little  Frank,  caught  my  hand  and  mur 
mured,  "  Oh,  mother,  I  don't  want  to  go,  I  don't  want 
to  go,"  and  his  trembling  form  and  half-stifled  sobs 


48  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE. 

betrayed  his  grief.  I  suppressed  ray  own  emotions, 
and  with  a  low  whisper  of  caution  silenced  his  sobs, 
for  I  feared  the  Indians  would  not  brook  any  expres 
sions  of  grief  without  inflicting  summary  punishment, 
and  only  awaited  a  pretext  to  sacrifice  us  to  their 
rapacious  thirst  for  blood. 

I  climbed  into  the  saddle,  and  looking  back,  saw  my 
little,  helpless  child  in  the  midst  of  the  blood-thirsty 
savages,  and  feared  to  claim  him  lest  I  should  provoke 
their  anger  or  give  them  a  pretext  to  take  his  life ;  but 
the  pleading  face  of  my  trembling  child  overcame  my 
dread,  and,  extending  my  arms,  I  begged  imploringly 
for  him:  one  moment  they  hesitated,  and  then  placed 
him  upon  the  horse  with  me. 

The  air  was  cool,  and  the  sky  was  bright  with  the 
glitter  of  stars.  The  water  of  the  creek,  as  it  fell  over 
the  rocks  in  the  distance,  came  to  our  ears  with  a  faint 
murmur.  All  nature  seemed  pitiless  in  its  calm  re 
pose,  unconscious  of  our  desolation. 

The  cry  of  the  night-birds  and  hum  of  insects  came 
with  painful  clearness  as  we  turned  to  leave  the  valley 
of  Little  Box-Elder.  With  anxious  eyes  we  strove  to 
penetrate  the  shadows  of  the  woods  where  we  thought 
our  friends  might  have  taken  refuge. 

The  smouldering  ruins  of  much  of  our  property  had 
fallen  into  ashes,  the  smoke  had  faded  away,  and  night 
had  covered  the  traces  of  confusion  and  death. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

ESCAPE  TO  AN  EMIGRANT  TRAIN — BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD  — 
PRECAUTION  OF  EMIGRANTS  —  ARRIVAL  AT  FORT  DEER- 
CREEK. 

AS  I  proceed  with  my  narrative,  I  must  pause  and 
gather  up  the  threads,  lest  they  become  a  tangled 
skein,  and  give  events  in  their  order  of  occurrence, 
although  some  of  them  were  not  known  to  me  for  some 
time  afterward. 

When-  the  Indians  commenced  their  murderous  at 
tack,  Mr.  Kelley  was  startled  by  the  report,  and  hur 
riedly  glanced  around,  and  saw  the  pale  face  of  his  wife 
and  child  in  his  wagon,  and  Mr.  Sharp  fall  from  the 
side  of  his  wagon,  into  which  he  was  reaching.  The 
utter  futility  of  opposing  his  insignificant  shongth 
against  two  hundred  and  fifty  Indians  was  apparent. 
He  had  laid  down  his  gun  to  assist  in  preparing 
supper,  and  consequently  was  unarmed :  all  he  could 
do  was  to  make  a  desperate  effort  to  save  himself,  and 
he  turned  and  fled  for  his  life. 

As  he  went,  the  air  seemed  filled  with  whizzing 
arrows.  Black  Franklin,  who  was  at  his  side,  seemed 
to  stumble,  and  was  left  behind.  He  saw  Mr.  Larimer 
and  Mr.  Wakefield  also  fall.  Soon  arriving  at  some 
tall  grass  and  small  bushes,  he  concealed  himself  among 
5  D  49 


50  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

them,  and  lay  crouching  and  scarcely  daring  to  breathe. 
He  could  hear  the  noise  of  the  chopping  and  breaking 
of  boxes,  and  the  voices  of  the  Indians  calling  to  each 
other,  and  finally  the  chanting  of  their  monotonous 
war-song  as  they  took  their  way  across  the  hills,  car 
rying  his  yearning  thought  with  them,  for  he  dreaded 
to  dwell  upon  what  might  be  the  fate  of  his  wife  and 
child.  At  one  time  he  almost  resolved  to  rush  back 
and  sacrifice  his  own  life,  with  no  hope  of  saving  them. 
But  his  knowledge  of  Indian  character  persuaded  him 
that  they  might  be  redeemed  with  money,  and  he  de 
termined  to  save  his  own  life,  with  the  faint  hope  of 
some  day  rescuing  them. 

Lying  in  his  perilous  shelter,  he  had  seen  darkness 
creep  slowly  around  the  hills  and  close  on  the  scene 
of  destruction  and  robbery  —  like  a  merciful  curtain 
dropped  to  shut  out  a  hideous  sight.  Still  fearing  to 
move,  he  heard  the  sound  of  cautious  footsteps  near 
him,  and  knew,  by  the  stealthy  tread,  they  were  of  an 
Indian. 

More  closely  he  crouched  to  the  ground,  fearing  each 
instant  the  descent  of  the  tomahawk  and  the  stroke  of 
the  scalping-knife ;  when,  strange  to  say,  a  venomous 
reptile,  a  rattlesnake,  curved  its  neck  close  by  him, 
and  thrusting  forth  its  poisonous  fangs,  uttered  a  warn 
ing  hiss,  and  the  Indian  took  alarm  and  retreated,  leav 
ing  the  fugitive  to  share  the  reptile's  den  unharmed  by 
the  bloody  knife. 

Cautiously  he  crawled  from  the  weeds  and  grass, 
and  gaining  his  feet,  started  swiftly  in  an  eastern  di- 


OK,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  51 

rection,  and  after  travelling  eight  miles,  came  to  a  large 
emigrant  train  that  had  camped  without  knowing  of  the 
Indian  troubles  ahead,  but  had  learned  of  it  through  the 
report  of  a  family  that  had  arrived  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  creek  overlooking  the  timber,  and  at  about 
a  mile's  distance,  when  the  Indians  surrounded  us,  and 
had  immediately  turned  back;  and  while  the  driver 
encouraged  the  horses  with  all  his  might,  his  wife 
threw  out  everything  she  could,  to  lighten  the  load : 
they  succeeded  in  making  their  escape  uninjured, 
though  an  arrow  passed  through  the  sleeve  of  their  in 
fant  child's  dress.  But  a  horseman  that  was  riding  a 
few  yards  in  advance  was  killed. 

The  news  of  the  massacre  spread  rapidly,  and  many 
small  trains  consolidated  with  the  larger  one,  in  order 
that  a  successful  resistance  might  be  effected,  in  case 
of  an  attack. 

The  colored  man,  Andy,  soon  arrived ;  and  not 
knowing  of  the  escape  of  his  companion,  reported 
all  his  company  killed,  "and  he  only  left  to  tell." 
Great  consternation  spread  with  the  tidings  of  the 
massacre ;  but  fears  for  personal  safety  prevented  any 
attempt  to  chastise  the  offenders. 

This  train  did  not  move  forward  until  late  the  next 
morning,  and  then  every  necessary  precaution  was 
taken  to  avoid  surprise  and  secure  safety. 

Women,  in  many  instances,  drove  the  teams,  to 
prevent  their  men  being  taken  at  a  disadvantage. 
Weapons  were  in  order,  and  vigilant  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  every  bluff  and  gorge,  anticipating  an  attack. 


62  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

At  noon  they  stopped  for  refreshment,  and  found  the 
body  of  the  horseman,  which,  when  viewed  at  a  little 
distance,  resembled  a  clump  of  brushwood,  from  the 
feathered  arrow-tops  sticking  from  it  —  ninety  arrows 
having  entered  it. 

The  body  was  placed  in  a  wagon,  and  the  train 
moved  on,  and  soon  arrived  at  the  place  of  our  mis 
fortunes  ;  and,  looking  around,  they  saw  the  traces  of 
senseless  havoc  and  savage  brutality.  The  remains 
of  much  that  was  but  half  destroyed  lay  scattered 
upon  the  ground,  among  which  were  found  the  dead 
bodies  of  three  of  our  company,  Mr.  Taylor,  Mr. 
Sharp,  and  Franklin,  one  of  the  colored  men. 

Mr.  Taylor  had  been  shot  in  the  forehead,  and  lay 
where  he  fell.  The  negro  had  been  shot  by  an  arrow 
that  pierced  his  legs,  pinning  them  together,  in  which 
condition  he  had  been  murdered  by  having  his  skull 
broken.  Mr.  Sharp  and  Mr.  Taylor  each  left  a  ikmily 
at  home  to  mourn  their  loss. 

Mr.  Larimer  was  found  living,  but  wounded,  an 
arrow  having  passed  through  his  thigh  near  the  body. 
He  was  faint  with  the  pain  of  his  wound  and  loss  of 
blood.  After  falling,  he  had  arisen  and  proceeded  a 
little  farther,  where  he  was  overtaken  by  Mr.  Wake- 
field,  who  said,  "  I  am  mortally,  wounded ;  you  will 
find  my  body  among  these  bushes." 

Mr.  Larimer  proceeded  to  a  secluded  place,  which 
he  thought  might  be  a  tolerably  safe  retreat,  and  con 
cealed  himself,  where  he  was  able  to  hear  the  noise  of 
the  work  of  destruction — as  the  Indians  industriously 


OR,    LIFE   AMOXG    THE    SIOUX.  53 

destroyed  what  they  could  Dot  take  away  —  and  the 
song,  as  they  left  the  field  of  robbery  and  carnage. 

In  the  night  he  was  startled  by  the  cracking  of  a 
twig,  that  seemed  to  have  yielded  to  the  weight  of  a 
footstep;  and  hearing  breathing  close  by,  observed 
more  closely,  and  discovered  an  Indian  crawling  into 
his  seclusion :  he  drew  his  revolver  and  discharged 
it  into  his  breast,  when  the  savage  fell  upon  the 
ground.  The  report  having  sounded  upon  the  still 
night  air,  guided  others  to  the  place,  and  the  remain 
der  of  that  night  he  spent  in  endeavoring  to  elude  his 
savage  pursuers.  When  morning  dawned,  he  was 
urged,  by  his  anxiety  for  the  fate  of  his  family,  to 
return  to  the  wagons  to  examine  the  ruins,  although 
he  dreaded  to  dwell  upon  what  the  fearful  spot  might 
disclose. 

He  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance,  when  he 
discovered  Indians  lurking  among  the  hills  ;  but,  not 
withstanding  his  dangerous  position,  he  hastened  to 
the  place,  and  ascertained  the  number  of  the  dead  and 
the  absence  of  his  family :  he  then  sought  the  cover  of 
a  projecting  rock,  to  await  the  arrival  of  travellers 
that  were  in  the  rear  the  previous  day. 

After  searching  the  neighborhood  for  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  where  last  seen,  Mr.  Wakefield  was  discov 
ered  alive,  but  pierced  by  three  arrows,  that  he  had 
vainly  endeavored  to  extricate,  succeeding  only  in 
withdrawing  the  shafts,  leaving  the  steel  points  im 
bedded  in  the  flesh. 

He  was  cared  for  with  all  the  kindness  possible  for 

5* 


54  THE   CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

his  rescuers  to  show,  and  was  taken  to  Fort  Deer-Creek, 
fifteen  miles  beyond,  where  he  survived  eight  months. 

A  grave  being  dug  for  the  interment  of  the  dead, 
the  four  bodies  were  solemnly  consigned,  uncoffined, 
to  the  earth.  A  buffalo-robe,  that  had  been  left  in  a 
wagon,  was  placed  over  them,  and  then  the  earth  was 
piled  upon  their  unconscious  breasts. 

At  that  time  the  question  of  color  had  occasioned 
very  much  dissension,  and  a  great  deal  was  being  said 
of  the  propriety  of  allowing  the  black  race  the  priv 
ilege  of  mingling  with  the  white. 

But  colored  Franklin  had  suffered  death  with  our 
companions,  and  was  not  deemed  unworthy  to  share 
their  grave;  and  they  lay  together,  where  kind  stran 
gers  left  them — the  latter  meditating,  as  they  pursued 
their  journey,  upon  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  of  the 
high  hopes  and  fearless  energy  which,  doubtless,  each 
one  had  cherished,  after  bidding  farewell  to  friends  at 
home,  feeling  secure  in  the  success  that  awaited  him  in 
the  land  of  gold,  and  never  for  a  moment  dreaming  of 
a  grave  in  the  wilderness  that  was  to  close  over  him. 

A  little  mound  raised  above  the  level,  on  which 
the  prairie-wolf  can  elevate  himself  above  the  sea  of 
grass  and  howl  his  lonely  cry  of  hunger  and  disap 
pointment,  is  all  that  marks  their  resting-place,  and 
the  passing  stranger  only  says,  "  There  is  a  grave." 

The  cattle  that  had  been  driven  in  the  herd  were 
found  grazing  in  the  valley,  and  the  ox-teams  were 
still  tied  to  the  stakes  where  they  had  been  secured 
the  evening  before;  and,  in  their  helpless  condition, 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  55 

presented  a  pitiable  sight.  The  sun  shone  hot,  and 
they  had  neither  food  nor  drink  from  the  day  before, 
but  stood  as  prisoners  among  the  ruins  and  the  dead. 

Very  many  arrows  were  found  strewn  upon  the 
ground,  their  owners  having  belonged  to  the  Sioux 
family,  though  of  various  bands.  The  arrows  were 
of  similar  form  and  finish.  The  shape  was  round,  of 
about  two  feet  in  length,  and  grooved  on  three  sides, 
that  the  blood  of  its  victim  might  not  be  impeded  in 
its  outward  flow.  Each  was  tipped  with  three  feath 
ers,  about  six  inches  long.  These  feathers  are  used  to 
guide  the  arrow  on  its  mission  of  death.  The  depth 
of  the  wound  depends  somewhat  upon  the  distance 
of  the  aim,  but  the  arrow  sometimes  passes  quite 
through  the  body,  though  usually  the  force  is  ex 
hausted  when  it  has  penetrated  a  few  inches  beyond 
the  point. 

The  wounded  being  made  as  comfortable  as  circum 
stances  would  allow,  in  the  wagon  of  a  stranger,  the 
train,  now  consisting  of  hundreds  of  wagons  and 
several  hundred  persons,  moved  slowly  forward 
to  an  encampment  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
sad  place  where  their  fellow-travellers'  career  had 
ended  forever  —  whose  vision  of  the  golden  land 
must  now  be  higher  and  brighter  than  earthly  eyes 
can  see. 

The  next  day  the  large  train  arrived  at  the  fort, 
and  the  wounded  men  were  intrusted  to  the  care  of  the 
commandant,  Captain  Kynheart  —  as  the  kind  trav 
ellers  were  compelled  by  military  regulations  to  take 


56  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE  ; 

their  animals  beyond  the  Government  reservation, 
lest  the  grazing  intended  for  Government  stock  should 
be  consumed  by  emigrant  herds. 

The  wounded  men  were  taken  from  the  wagon  in 
which  they  had  been  brought,  and  laid  upon  the  burn 
ing  sand,  without  couch  or  coverlet :  even  the  buffalo- 
robe  that  had  been  buried  with  the  dead  would  have 
been  a  Samaritan  gift  to  the  living  in  that  hour  of 
poverty  and  distress,  to  have  formed  a  cover  for  their 
aching  wounds,  and  protect  them  from  the  scorching 
rays  of  the  sun. 

Though  the  flag  of  our  country  floated  proudly 
above  the  walls,  and  seemed  to  beckon  for  the  afflicted, 
unfortunate,  and  distressed  to  come  to  its  shadow  and 
find  repose  under  its  folds,  they  were  unwelcome 
guests,  seeming  to  have  no  legal  claims  upon  the  gar 
rison,  and  only  permitted  to  enter  by  act  of  charity. 
Finally,  a  small  tent  was  procured  of  a  moun 
taineer,  which  was  graciously  accepted  for  a  shield  from 
the  pitiless  rays  of  the  sun;  and,  by  the  kindness  of 
soldiers  and  travellers,  much  of  their  suffering  was 
alleviated. 

The  night  of  their  arrival  in  the  fort,  many  emi 
grant  women  being  encamped  in  the  neighborhood, 
who  could  be  induced  to  dance,  a  ball  was  given  ;  and 
the  lady  who  so  narrowly  escaped  death  or  abduc 
tion,  by  riding  with  her  family  for  their  lives, 
having  lost  her  wardrobe  with  her  trunks,  borrowed 
a  dress  of  Mrs.  Holbrook,  the  wife  of  a  non-com 
missioned  officer,  and  the  only  lady  residing  in  the 


OK;   LIFE -AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  57 

fort,  and  joined  in  the  festivities,  regardless  of  the  sor 
row  and  the  gloom  that  had  recently  surrounded  them 
—  the  burial  of  their  companion  and  our  poor  men 
having  only  been  completed.  Such  seems  to  be  the 
influence  of  familiarity  with  danger,  and  isolation 
from  social  restraint.  The  heart  loses  in  a  measure 
the  gentler  sympathies,  and  a  recklessness  in  every 
day  habits  is  sometimes  contracted,  that  is  truly  ap 
palling  to  those  unaccustomed  to  such  terrific  scenes 
and  associations. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

JOURNEY  IN  CAPTIVITY  —  ESCAPE  OF  LITTLE  MARY  —  CROSS 
ING  OF  THE  NORTH  PLATTE  RIVER  —  FIRST  ENCAMPMENT 
—  INDIAN  HILARITY. 

THE  Indians  left  the  scene  of  their  cruel  rapacity, 
travelling  to  the  northward,  and  chanting  their 
monotonous  war-song.  After  a  ride  of  twt>  miles, 
through  tall  weeds  and  small  bushes,  we  left  the  bot 
tom  lands  and  ascended  some  bluffs,  and  soon  after 
came  to  a  creek  which  was  easily  forded,  and  where 
they  drank  and  kindly  offered  water  to  us.  The  hills 
beyond  began  to  be  more  difficult  to  ascend,  and  the 
gorges  seemed  fearfully  deep,  as  we  looked  into  the 
black  shadows  that  were  not  relieved  by  the  feeble 
light  of  the  stars. 

Here  Mrs.  Kelley  conceived  a  plan  for  her  child's 
escape,  of  which  I  was  unconscious,  and  whispered, 
" Maty,  I  believe  you  had  better  go  back;  if  you 
will  make  the  attempt,  I  will  help  you  to  the  ground." 
The  child,  trusting  in  its  mother's  judgment,  readily 
consented,  and  she  took  the  little  trembling  hand  in 
her  own  and  lowered  her  gently  from  the  horse,  and 
the  child  lay  crouching  until,  darkness  and  distance 
intervening,  she  was  lost  from  sight  forever.  Left 

58 


THE   CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE.  59 

alone  in  the  wilderness,  a  little  helpless  child,  who  can 
portray  her  terror  ? 

With  faith  to  trust  and  courage  to  dare,  that  little, 
trembling  form  through  the  long  hours  of  the  night 
kept  watch.  The  lonely  cry  of  the  night-bird  had  no 
fear  in  its  melancholy  scream  for  the  little  wanderer 
who  crouched  amid  the  prairie-grass.  The  baying  of 
the  gray  wolf,  as  he  passed  the  lonely  watcher,  might 
startle,  but  could  not  drive  the  faith  from  her  heart. 
Surely  God  is  just,  and  angels  will  guide  the  little,  fal 
tering  feet  to  friends  and  home.  Innocent  of  wrong,  how 
could  she  but  trust  that  the  unseen  hands  of  spirits 
would  guide  her  from  the  surrounding  peril.  It  must 
have  been  something  stronger  than  a  vague  hope  of 
liberty,  to  be  lost  or  won,  that  guided  the  feeble  steps 
of  the  child  back  on  the  trail  to  a  bluff  overlooking 
the  road,  where  she  sat  with  little,  folded  hands,  await 
ing  the  coming  of  friends.  Rescue  was  seemingly  near, 
now  that  she  had  reached  the  great  road  in  safety,  and 
experience  must  have  taught  her  that  there  would  be 
some  passing  trains,  if  not  one  day,  perhaps  the  next. 
It  was  in  this  situation  she  was  seen  by  some  soldiers, 
holding  out  her  little  trembling  hands  with  joy,  and 
calling  them  to  deliver  her. 

How  much  of  agony  she  must  have  endured  as  they 
turned  away,  and  the  fierce  war-whoop  of  the  savage 
rang  upon  her  terrified  soul,  can  never  be  known.  In 
stead  of  the  rescue  and  friends  which,  in  her  trusting,  in 
nocent  faith,  she  had  expected  to  find,  fierce  Indians  with 
murderous  intentions  stood  before  her,  stringing  then 


60  THE   CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

bows  to  take  her  life — thus  to  win  a  plume  to  decorate 
a  head  to  mark  a  murderer.  The  whizzing  arrows 
were  sent  into  the  helpless  child,  and  with  the  twang  of 
the  bowstrings  a  little  corpse  lay  stretched  upon  the 
ground,  and  one  more  angel  walked  the  golden  streets 
of  paradise,  and  stood  before  the  throne  of  God. 

The  Indians,  upon  discovering  the  absence  of  the 
little  girl,  demanded  an  explanation  of  her  absence, 
when,  with  ready  presence  of  mind,  the  mother  related 
a  story,  the  invention  of  the  moment,  succeeding  par 
tially  in  allaying  their  suspicions.  She  said  the  child 
had  fallen  asleep,  and,  relinquishing  her  grasp  of  the 
saddle,  had  slipped  off  the  horse;  and  that  she  had  soon 
after  missed  her,  and  vainly  endeavored  to  attract  their 
attention  to  the  circumstance.  And  having  invented 
and  told  the  story,  she  proceeded  to  plead  that  a  party 
be  sent  back,  and  that  she  be  allowed  to  accompany 
them,  to  search  for  the  lost  child ;  this  she  did  to  lay 
their  suspicions.  I  did  not  doubt  the  truthfulness  of 
her  explanation,  for  it  appeared  to  be  the  most  reason 
able,  and  clasped  my  child  more  closely,  lest  he  should 
meet  with  a  similar  accident. 

Very  soon  afterward  we  began  to  penetrate  still 
more  perilous  places,  over  dizzy  heights  that  led  along 
the  brows  of  black  abysses:  the  darkness  of  night  and 
the  fear  of  the  savages  added  terror  to  this  perilous 
ride.  In  one  of  the  gloomy  gorges  we  might  have 
taken  refuge,  had  it  not  been  for  the  vigilant  eyes  that 
were  constantly  upon  us.  The  scenery  around  was 
terribly  wild,  and  though  it  seemed  to  be  impossible 


OK;    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  61 

for  man  or  beast  to  clamber  through,  our  captors  rode 
fearlessly,  and  the  horses  retained  their  footing  with 
remarkable  activity.  At  length  the  sound  of  rippling 
water  convinced  us  of  our  vicinity  to  a  river,  and  soon 
the  savages  turned  their  horses  down  a  steep  declivity 
that  like  a  mighty  wall  closed  in  the  great  bed  of  the 
North  Platte. 

The  bluffs  we  had  penetrated  were  the  mountainous 
hills  that  compelled  the  emigrant  trains  to  make  a  de 
tour  southward.  Now  the  broad  bosom  of  the  river 
lay  stretched  out  before  us  like  a  barrier  to  further  pro 
gress,  and,  if  once  passed,  was  a  line  drawn  between  us 
and  the  civilized  world. 

Lonely  and  pitiless  everything  appeared.  The 
twinkling  stars  were  reflected  back  from  the  glassy  sur 
face  of  the  water,  but  the  moon  had  long  since  set,  and 
the  grim  shadows  of  the  rocks  looked  dark  and  gloomy, 
and  the  great  stream  seemed  hastening  to  some  known 
ocean,  and  vexed  at  our  intrusion  upon  its  solitude. 
Upon  the  sand  by  the  edge  of  the  water  a  letter  was 
dropped,  which  we  hoped  would  be  found  by  friendly 
pursuers ;  and  in  this  we  were  not  disappointed,  for  it 
was  discovered  three  days  subsequently  and  carried  to 
the  fort,  where  it  was  recognized  by  my  husband,  and 
was  to  him  an  assurance  that  we  were  being  carried 
away ;  and  a  gleam  of  hope  sprang  up  in  his  breast 
that,  life  having  been  spared,  we  might  some  day  escape 
and  return ;  but  this  seeming  delirium  of  a  wounded 
man's  fancy  was  derided  by  more  experienced  persons, 
who  told  him  the  accomplishment  of  such  an  under- 
6 


62  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE 


taking  would  be  impossible  without  the  interference 
of  military  assistance,  either  in  battle  or  by  ransom, 
and  the  latter  was  most  probable  of  success,  as  it  is  the 
Indians'  custom  to  murder  prisoners  on  the  near  ap 
proach  of  rescuers.  But  still  it  was  a  relief  from  the 
terrible  suspense  he  had  suffered  since  our  separation, 
and  Providence  seemed  mercifully  to  have  allowed  it 
to  be  a  messenger  of  assurance  to  him  in  his  helpless 
anxiety.  Though  it  was  an  old  letter  and  had  no  word 
from  us,  its  presence  was  understood. 

We  travelled  to  the  northward  a  little  by  west.  I 
endeavored  to  keep  the  points  of  the  compass,  as  a 
knowledge  of  the  directions  we  took  would  be  of  as 
sistance  if  retracing  the  country  alone.  We  had,  when 
first  attacked,  learned  that  our  position  was  fifteen 
miles  from  Fort  Deer-Creek,  which  I  supposed  was, 
as  we  were,  ten  miles  south  of  the  Platte  River. 

The  bluffs  into  which  we  penetrated,  after  crossing 
the  river,  were  not  as  precipitous  as  those  on  the  other 
side ;  yet  the  horses  trod  over  dangerous  places  that, 
under  calmer  influences,  would  have  caused  our 
courage  to  fail  at  the  first  step;  but  now  the  great 
anxiety  we  endured  seemed  to  consume  all  minor  fears. 
Intent  on  saving  my  child  and  returning  to  my  hus 
band,  I  rode  on  with  an  air  of  resignation. 

At  early  dawn,  our  way  led  down  a  precipitous 
bluff;  and  when  the  soft  light  of  day  was  tinging  the 
eastern  sky,  we  emerged  from  the  hills  and  entered  a 
little  valley  that  was  covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth 
of  grass ;  and  through  it  flowed  a  stream  of  clear,  cool 


OB,    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  63 

water,  spreading  a  delicious  freshness  around.  Birds, 
awakening  from  their  night's  repose,  left  their  perches 
among  the  boughs  of  the  trees  that  grew  along  its 
banks,  to  sing  their  morning  songs ;  and  brilliantly 
colored  flowers  opened  their  gorgeous  cups  to  welcome 
the  rising  sun :  delicate  little  blossoms  hid  them 
selves  among  the  rich  shrubbery  and  at  the  roots  of 
moss-covered  trees ;  while  long  vines,  suspended  from 
the  boughs,  moved  by  a  passing  breeze,  dipped  their 
leaves  in  the  sparkling  brook,  as  it  danced  along, 
offering  its  refreshing  influence  to  everything  that 
came  within  its  touch.  The  beauty  and  brightness 
of  this  scene  seemed  to  mock  our  precarious  situation, 
as  we  stood,  surrounded  by  more  than  two  hundred 
savage  Indian  warriors,  not  knowing  but  our  lives 
were  to  be  sacrificed  to  their  caprice. 

Our  fate  seemed  too  doubtful  to  admit  of  repose ; 
and  while  my  child  lay  in  a  troubled  sleep,  I  sat  by 
his  side,  silently  praying  for  God's  protecting  mercy, 
and  could  see  the  hills  above  us  dotted  with  Indians, 
stationed  as  pickets  to  give  alarm  in  case  of  the  appear 
ance  of  approaching  danger. 

Our  stay  in  this  valley  was  about  two  hours,  that 
the  men  might  rest  and  the  horses  crop  the  grass  along 
the  banks  of  the  stream. 

The  Indians,  seeming  to  have  no  regard  for  properly 
prepared  food,  carry  no  commissaries  with  them  in 
their  wanderings,  a  superstitious  idea  prevailing  that 
if  they  depend  upon  other  resources  than  the  chase, 
"beggary,  theft,  and  misfortunes  will  attend  them ;  and, 


64  THE    CAPTUKE   AND   ESCAPE; 

strange  as  it  may  appear,  the  peculiar  superstition 
extends  to  mountaineers  of  the  country,  who  always 
depend  upon  net  and  gun  for  food  in  their  travels. 

No  breakfast  was  prepared,  and  preparations  for  our 
departure  were  being  made,  when  an  Indian  advanced 
from  the  immediate  presence  of  the  chief,  with  a  mes 
sage  from  his  royal  highness,  which  was  intelligibly 
delivered.  He  said  it  was  a  great  distance  to  the 
Indian  village,  and  over  a  dry,  sandy  country,  inter 
spersed  with  but  few  grassy  slopes  and  occasional 
creeks,  and  but  little  timber,  and  it  would  be  impos 
sible  for  the  child  to  endure  the  journey  in  safety,  and 
most  likely  he  would  die  on  the  way,  and  in  conse 
quence  would  become  a  feast  for  wolves ;  and  he  was 
now  at  liberty  to  go  back. 

Involuntarily  my  eyes  fell  upon  the  little,  innocent, 
helpless  child,  who  sat  upon  the  ground  before  me, 
when  the  Indian — seeming  to  divine  my  thoughts,  and 
understanding  the  futility  of  such  an  undertaking, 
well  knowing,  too,  the  inability  of  a  child  of  his  size 
to  perform  so  great  an  undertaking,  even  if  no  enemies 
were  scattered  along  the  road  —  added :  "  He  may 
ride  a  pony,  which  will  carry  him  safely ." 

This  seeming  kind  offer  caused  contending  emo 
tions,  and  for  a  while  I  felt  unable  to  decide.  The 
child  urged  me  to  allow  him  to  go,  feeling  confident, 
in  his  innocent  hopefulness,  that  he  could  accomplish 
the  undertaking  in  safety.  But  opposed  to  my  dear 
boy's  desire  and  earnest  feelings  was  the  recollection 
of  the  distance  we  had  travelled  through  the  long 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  65 

hours  of  the  previous  night,  of  the  rocky  hills,  precip 
itous  mountain-sides,  dark  and  gloomy  gorges,  the 
uncertainty  of  the  points  of  the  compass,  ravenous 
beasts  of  prey,  and  the  mighty  river;  and  I  was  con 
vinced  that  the  undertaking  was  too  dangerous  for  a 
child  to  accomplish,  and  concluded  that  nothing  but 
coercion  or  death  should  cause  our  separation.  I 
realized  that  this  seeming  authority  might  cause  our 
immediate  separation  or  destruction,  and  almost  fan 
cied  I  saw  my  dear  child  taken  from  my  sight  forever, 
and  his  limbs  severed  from  the  body,  and  the  muti 
lated  remains  left  upon  the  ground  to  satisfy  the  hun 
gry  appetite  of  wolves  or  birds  of  prey,  when  the 
bones  would  be  allowed  to  bleach  in  the  sun  and 
storms,  while  his  flaxen  curls  would  be  used  to  orna 
ment  a  warrior's  belt,  and  entitle  him  to  the  honor  of 
adding  one  more  plume  to  his  crown,  as  a  signal  that 
he  had,  by  the  violence  of  his  own  hands,  sent  a  soul 
to  that  bourne  from  whence  no  traveller  returns. 

While  these  contending  emotions  were  filling  my 
breast,  the  child  stood  silent  and  pale,  looking  hope 
fully,  awaiting  for  me  to  determine.  The  Indian  soon 
returned  to  learn  what  I  had  concluded  to  do,  and  my 
decision  must  be  given.  It  was  hard  to  determine,  for 
the  fate  of  my  only  child  seemed  suspended  in  a  bal 
ance,  and  dangers  lurked  in  every  thought,  as  each 
moment  seemed  to  draw  him  nearer  to  the  brink  of  eter 
nity.  A  tear  stood  in  his  eyes,  and  a  tremor  upon  his 
pale  lips,  as  the  awful  suspense  culminated.  I  deter 
mined  to  make  a  desperate  effort  to  save  his  life,  and, 


66  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

taking  his  hand,  I  advanced  a  few  steps  toward  the 
savage,  and  explained  the  result  of  my  meditation. 
A  frown  of  disappointment  darkened  his  swarthy 
brow,  and  his  eyes  fell  upon  his  bow.  No  time  was 
to  be  spared  —  quicker  than  thought  my  child  might 
be  beyond  the  power  of  earthly  interference;  and, 
stepping  between  them,  I  said,  "  I  will  give  the  boy 
to  you !  "  and  proceeded  to  explain  the  benefits  that 
would  be  derived  from  his  services. 

Frank,  m  his  trusting  hope  of  my  superior  judg 
ment,  made  no  resistance,  though  he  saw  that  I  was 
relinquishing  my  claim  as  his  parent,  and  appeared  to 
realize  that  the  sacrifice  on  my  part  equalled  his  own. 
A  spirit  of  resignation  seemed  to  have  come  over 
him  with  the  knowledge  of  my  renewed  fears,  and 
not  a  glance  of  reproach  could  be  seen  in  his  eyes, 
nor  a  murmur  escaped  his  lips,  as  he  quietly  bowed  his 
head  in  submission. 

Placing  my  hand,  as  if  by  chance,  upon  the  Indian's 
strong  bow,  I  looked  into  the  unrelenting  features  of 
the  swarthy  face  with  a  painful  anxiety  that  none  but 
a  mother  under  similar  circumstances  can  know,  and 
endeavored  to  detect  any  changing  expression  that 
might  bring  hope,  and  assured  him  of  my  confidence 
in  his  acceptance  of  my  precious  offering.  With  the 
belief  that  the  stern  expression  of  his  countenance 
was  softening,  I  proceeded  to  enumerate  the  benefits 
that  would  be  derived  from  Frank's  assistance  in  the 
Indian  village,  explaining  how  he  could  be  taught  to 
chop  wood,  attend  children,  and  bear  burdens  at  home, 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  67 

and  when  on  the  chase  for  game  in  the  hills,  draw  the 
bow,  and  fire  a  gun,  and  dress  the  meat ;  and  even  on 
the  war-path,  sway  the  tomahawk.  The  savage  yielded, 
and  a  pleased  look  lighted  his  features,  and  he  almost 
smiled  as  he  assured  me  it  should  be  as  I  desired ;  yet 
to  the  plan  of  the  boy  laboring  at  home,  they  seemed  to 
have  a  dislike  —  possibly  because  it  is  considered  by 
Indians  beneath  the  dignity  of  a  brave  to  do  manual 
labor.  And  now  they  desired  me  to  believe  that  Frank 
was  accepted  as  a  member  of  the  Sioux  family,  and 
was,  in  consequence,  a  young  warrior  by  actual  adop 
tion  into  their  tribe. 

I  felt  persuaded,  by  the  changed  expression  of  the 
Indian's  countenance,  and  his  repeated  assurances  of 
their  acceptance  of  the  child  as  their  own,  that  his  life 
would  not  be  immediately  sacrificed,  unless  some  com 
peting  influence  should  interfere  and  supersede  this 
good  resolution ;  for  though  the  pledge  was  given  by 
an  enemy,  whose  people  I  was  justifiable  in  suspect 
ing  of  treachery  and  deceit,  I  believed  they  were 
given  in  sincerity  and  not  to  deceive ;  they  were 
received  in  confidence,  and  as  the  only  assurance  that 
I  could  obtain  for  the  preservation  of  the  child. 

I  understood  too  little  of  the  duplicity  of  the  In 
dian  character  to  suspect  a  stratagem  when  I  was  told 
that  the  child  might  take  a  horse  and  go  back,  and 
had  only  opposed  our  separation  because  of  the  utter 
inability  of  a  boy  of  only  seven  years  returning, 
by  himself,  over  such  a  country  as  we  had  travelled, 
and  surmounting  the  dangers  of  the  way :  it  was 


68  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

a  deceitful,  cunning  plan  of  the  subtle  chief,  who  had 
contemplated  the  murder  of  the  child  beyond  the  first 
bluff. 

But  God,  in  mercy,  softened  the  warrior's  heart, 
and  caused  him  to  admire  the  boy,  and  gain  permission 
to  spare  his  life. 

I  saw  that  an  influence  could  be  exerted  over  this 
savage's  mind,  and  hoped  to  see  in  his  character  some 
of  the  noble  traits  I  had  been  taught  to  believe  be 
longed  to  the  nature  of  Indians,  and  that,  as  their 
vigilance  declined,  we  would  meet  writh  some  oppor 
tunity  by  which  an  escape  might  be  effected. 

The  chief  was  evidently  pleased  with  the  gift  of  the 
child ;  or  possibly  it  was  with  the  belief  that  I  was 
reconciled  to  our  life  of  bondage ;  for  arrangements 
for  our  comfort  were  made  that  had  not  been  done 
before :  a  horse  was  brought  for  me  to  ride,  and  over 
the  saddle  a  heavy  cloth  was  spread,  that  the  seat 
might  be  as  comfortable  as  possible.  An  Indian  boy 
stooped,  and,  crossing  his  hands,  motioned  for  me  to 
step  upon  them;  and,  having  done  so,  I  was  assisted 
into  the  saddle  with  as  much  gallantry  as  if  the  little 
savage  had  been  a  gentleman  of  refined  surroundings ; 
then,  turning  to  the  pony  the  chief  had  detailed  for 
Frank's  use,  he  fastened  a  pillow  upon  its  back  — 
which  happened  to  be  one  from  his  own  little  bed  at 
home  —  and,  taking  the  child,  he  placed  him  upon  it. 

Having  previously  packed  a  third  horse,  and  two 
of  those  faithful  creatures  being  all  of  the  stolen 
animals  that  had  been  allotted  to  his  charge,  his  own 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  69 

included  did  not  number  enough  to  allow  one  for 
himself  to  ride.  Taking  our  bridles,  and  driving 
the  pack-horse  in  advance,  he  started  up  the  bluff 
afoot. 

I  was  forming  a  more  favorable  opinion  of  Indian 
gallantry,  when  he  suddenly  stopped  and  took  Frank 
from  the  horse.  The  sight  of  the  unexpected  change 
in  the  Indian's  plan  gave  me  renewed  cause  for  fear, 
and  the  child's  pale  face  and  imploring  eyes  turned 
toward  me  with  a  look  of  despair.  Happily  our  re 
newed  fears  were  but  momentary,  for  the  dexterous 
savage,  with  remarkable  rapidity,  grasped  a  little 
saddle,  that,  being  too  small  for  a  comfortable  seat  for 
a  man,  had  been  abandoned,  girded  it  upon  the  horse's 
back,  and,  after  carefully  arranging  the  stirrups  and 
placing  the  pillow  in  it,  he  lifted  the  child  into  this 
comfortable  seat,  and  again  took  our  bridles,  proceeding 
up  the  bluff;  and  we  were  soon  upon  a  rolling  prairie, 
where  the  party  separated  into  small  companies,  to 
avoid  making  a  single  path  that  might  lead  pur 
suers  directly  upon  our  track.  The  boy  continuing 
to  walk,  aroused  my  anxiety  for  his  generosity,  for 
I  feared,  if  fatigue  should  overcome  him,  love  for 
the  child  and  respect  for  our  wishes  might  fail  him, 
and  I  requested  that  Frank  be  allowed  to  ride  on  the 
horse  with  me,  while  the  Indian  boy  should  ride 
Frank's  pony ;  but  he  shook  his  head  good-humoredly, 
saying,  "  Xo,  no,  sugar  and  coffee !  "  —  intimating 
that  it  was  impossible  to  ride  the  pack-horse,  and 
that  it  would  be  unkind  to  incommode  us  by  placing 


70  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

himself  upon  one  of  the  horses  that  had  been  allotted 
for  our  use. 

The  way  was  across  the  country  to  the  northwest, 
but  by  no  road,  though  the  prairie  was  striped  with 
paths  that  had  been  made  by  the  buffalo  when  going 
and  returning  from  the  hills  to  the  creek.  Each  path 
was  crossed,  that  if  possible  no  track  of  their  horses' 
feet  might  be  left  to  mark  our  course. 

At  the  camp  our  confiscated  clothing  had  been  in 
great  demand,  and  each  warrior  that  had  been  fortu 
nate  enough  to  possess  himself  of  any  article  of  our 
dress  now  arrayed  himself  to  the  best  advantage  the 
garment  and  his  limited  ideas  of  civilization  per 
mitted  ;  and  in  some  instances,  when  the  toilet  was 
considered  complete,  changes  for  less  attractive  arti 
cles  of  display  were  made  with  companions  that  had 
not  been  so  fortunate  as  themselves  in  the  division  of 
the  goods,  that  they  might  also  share  in  the  sport 
afforded  by  this  derisive  display. 

Their  peculiar  ideas  of  tasteful  dress  rendered  them 
grotesque  in  appearance.  One  brawny  face  appeared 
among  the  laces,  ribbons,  and  artificial  flowers  of  my 
straw  bonnet,  evincing  smiles  of  evident  satisfaction 
at  the  superiority  of  his  decoration  over  his  more  un 
fortunate  companions;  while  another  was  shaded  from 
the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun  by  a  tiny  parasol,  and 
the  brown  hand  that  held  it  aloft  was  thinly  covered 
by  a  black  silk  mitten,  which  was  the  only  article  of 
slothing,  except  the  invariable  breech-cloth,  that  the 
warrior  wore. 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  71 

The  hand  of  another  brave  was  seen  vainly  en 
deavoring  to  penetrate  a  delicate  kid  glove,  while 
laces  and  ribbons  were  strewn  in  profusion  around 
his  neck  and  arms. 

Vests  and  coats  were  invariably  put  on  with  the 
lower  part  upward.  They  all  displayed  remarkable  fer 
tility  of  imagination  in  their  decorations.  One  youth 
ful  brave  sported  a  high-crowned  silk  hat,  and  looked 
quite  as  comfortable  under  it  as  does  an  Eastern  gen 
tleman  ;  but,  being  derided  by  his  more  sensible  com 
panions,  he  threw  it  away  in  disgust,  when  it  was  im 
mediately  recaptured  by  a  more  frolicsome  youth  and 
appropriated  to  his  own  use. 

The  shirts,  excepting  the  starched  bosoms,  were 
regarded  as  reasonable  articles  of  clothing,  and  fans 
were  used  in  the  proper  way. 

They  seemed  to  think  much  of  their  stolen  goods 
were  frivolous,  and,  in  very  many  instances,  worthless, 
decorating  themselves  by  way  of  derision.  One  old 
man,  however,  being  partially  civilized,  and  somewhat 
accustomed  to  white  men's  dress,  having  been  a  fre 
quenter  at  the  various  military  stations  and  at  French 
trading-posts,  dressed  himself,  that  he  might  make  a 
decent  appearance,  with  black  broad-cloth  pantaloons 
and  coat,  white  shirt  and  silk  vest,  and  black  hat,  all 
in  their  proper  order ;  and,  when  thus  arrayed,  he  had 
very  much  the  appearance  of  a  civilized  man,  especially 
as  he  conversed  in  the  English  language;  and  fre 
quently,  when  the  others  were  exhibiting  their  ludicrous 
demonstrations,  he  assured  us  that  no  harm  was  intended. 


72  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE 


It  has  been  said  that  Indians  are  incapable  of 
hilarity — that  their  laughter  is  but  a  mockery  of  the 
expression  of  merriment ;  but,  opposed  to  this  idea  of 
the  character  of  the  forest  lord,  these  Indians  seemed 
to  have  a  sensitive  appreciation  of  the  ludicrous,  fre 
quently  indulging  in  hearty  fits  of  laughter,  and  were 
apt  in  giving  and  receiving  jokes. 

It  has  also  been  affirmed  that  Indians  do  not  yield 
to  tears  of  sorrow,  but  always  mourn  aloud;  yet  obser 
vation  has  convinced  the  close  observer  that  this  is  also 
a  mistaken  conclusion. 

The  day  was  excessively  warm.  The  sand  over 
which  we  travelled  was  scorching  under  the  rays  of 
the  sun. 

The  whole  country,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
was  covered  with  artemisias  and  salicornias,  inter 
spersed  with  cactus  and  opuntia,  and  along  the  hill-sides 
occasional  spots  of  bunch  grass  could  be  seen.  For 
tunately,  we  were  not  compelled  to  leave  our  heads 
uncovered,  as  is  the  most  usual  custom  among  these 
Indians.  Frank  wore  his  hat,  and  I  a  sun-bonnet. 
My  hat  had  not  been  solicited,  but  its  jaunty  shape 
and  trimming  were  too  attractive  in  the  captor's  eyes 
to  allow  him  to  relinquish  his  claim  unasked  for.  A 
silk  mantle,  that  had  fallen  to  a  young  Indian,  was 
unceremoniously  taken  from  his  shoulders  and  ex 
changed  for  a  shawl  that  was  believed  to  be  not  as 
becoming  for  me  to  wear. 

Though  our  speed  did  not  exceed  a  quick  walk,  the 
journey,  having  been  already  much  longer  than  we 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG  THE  SIOUX. 

\vere  ae/  k,  was  becon 

extrernely  irksome,  as  the  sur  down  its  hottest 

.  scorch  which  we  travelled, 

and  the  country  spread  out  Wore  us  a  vast  wilderness, 
seeming  a  living  grave  into  which  we  were  hastening. 

pitiful  face  of  the  weary  child  arouse 
courage  to  plead  for  a  slower  pace,  with  the  feeble  hope 

jds;  but  the  re 
quest  was  answered  by  the  cheerless  assurance  thai 
haste  was  necessary  to  safety;  for  if  they  were  closely 
followed  by  oar  fri<  fate  would  be  unques 

tioned,  it  being  their  duty  to  murder  prisoners  rather 
than  relinquish  them. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

SECOND  ENCAMPMENT  —  INDIAN  COOKERY,  AND  CHAGRIN  — 
THE  SINGULAR  AND  THREATENING  CONDUCT  OF  THE  CHIEF, 
AND  HIS  EARLY  HISTORY. 

ABOUT  noon  we  arrived  in  a  small  but  lovely 
valley,  covered  by  a  luxuriant  growth  of  grass, 
through  which  a  rippling  brook  ran.  sparkling  and 
murmuring  its  song  of  welcome. 

The  camps  were  selected  with  a  clear  knowledge  of 
their  surroundings,  and  of  their  advantages  of  grass 
and  water,  which  naturally  suggested  refreshment  and 
repose:  with  a  mind  free  from  anxiety,  this  camp 
would  have  been  a  pleasant  place. 

Indians  are  very  irregular  in  their  habits  of  eating, 
surfeiting  themselves  when  opportunity  permits,  and 
as  they  depend  upon  the  precarious  resources  of  chance 
and  the  chase  in  their  predatory  wanderings,  some 
times  remaining  a  remarkably  long  time  before  tak 
ing  sustenance,  but  without  apparent  injury.  Although 
these  Indians  had  eaten  no  breakfast,  dinner  was  not 
prepared;  but,  in  the  process  of  unrolling  and  admir 
ing  their  plunder,  several  bottles  of  medicine  were  dis 
covered,  which  liquid  they  immediately  proceeded  to 
drink ;  but,  fearing  the  nauseating  effect  it  might  pro 
duce  would  cause  them  to  believe  they  were  under  the 

74 


THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE.  75 

influence  of  poison,  and  to  avenge  their  supposed 
wrong  upon  us,  I  immediately  proceeded  to  explain 
to  them  the  nature  of  the  liquid,  and  they  desisted. 

Several  glass  jars  filled  with  pickles  were  discovered, 
opened,  and  tasted,  with  indescribable  contortions  of 
countenance :  after  a  little  serious  reflection,  however, 
it  was  decided  that  cooking  would  be  likely  to  improve 
their  flavor,  and  a  fire  was  immediately  prepared  for 
the  purpose  of  trying  the  experiment :  placing  the  glass 
jars  among  the  flames,  the  plan  proved  to  be  rather 
startling,  for  very  soon  they  burst  into  pieces,  scatter 
ing  in  all  directions,  and  letting  the  vinegar  pour  over 
the  coals,  the  pickles  simmering  among  the  ashes. 

This  was  too  great  an  imposition  for  the  Indians ; 
they  were  disappointed  and  indignant.  Looking  con 
temptuously  at  the  fragments,  they  exclaimed  in  Eng 
lish,  "  White  fool,  heap  white  fool!  squaw  !  squaw  !  " 
and  further  testified  their  disapprobation  of  the  result 
of  their  protection  of  their  admired  package  and  their 
cookery,  by  jumping  around  in  much  glee  and  almost 
frantic  excitement. 

We  had  travelled  about  forty  miles  to  the  north 
ward.  From  our  position  I  believed  the  nearest  point 
of  the  Platte  River  to  be  about  twenty  miles,  and 
thought  Fort  Dear-Creek  was  among  the  hills  ten  miles 
beyond. 

During  this  encampment  I  discovered  several  little 
books  that  had  belonged  to  Frank — Wilson's  Series  of 
Readers  —  and  thought  that,  though  in  bondage,  I 
saw  a  useful  work  for  me  to  do.  The  Scriptural  sto- 


76  THE    CAPTURE   AXD    ESCAPE; 

lies,  so  plainly  and  pleasantly  told,  aided  the  sugges 
tion;  so,  attracting  the  attention  of  several  of  the 
most  intelligent  young  men,  I  began  to  instruct  them 
in  a  first  lesson,  and  was  delighted  at  observing  the 
aptitude  and  interest  they  manifested,  as  they  repeated 
words  and  listened  to  explanations  with  pleased  atten 
tion,  seeming  to  realize  the  necessity  of  being  able  to 
write,  and  that  benefit  might  be  derived  by  corre 
spondence  with  their  white  brethren. 

As  a  reward  for  my  lesson  in  reading,  they  kindly 
offered  to  teach  us  a  lesson  in  archery,  and,  placing 
some  blunt  arrows  and  a  strong  bow  in  our  hands,  en 
deavored  to  show  the  manner  of  shooting,  the  distance 
an  arrow-shaft  might  pass  into  a  body,  etc. ;  but  we 
declined.  The  knowledge  of  the  use  of  the  bow  is  one 
of  the  earliest  teachings  given  to  Indian  boys,  and 
sometimes  even  it  is  taught  to  girls ;  in  this  instance 
they  undertook  to  show  us  both.  .Their  conversation 
seemed  altogether  connected  with  shooting,  cutting, 
scalping,  and  slaughtering  generally. 

They  kept  their  firearms  in  readiness  for  battle, 
anticipating  attack  from  our  pursuing  friends,  and 
bundles  of  arrows  were  placed  convenient  to  their 
hands.  The  points  of  these  instruments  of  death  are 
sometimes  made  of  flint,  sometimes  of  bone,  but  usually 
of  steel,  the  latter  being  often  purchased  of  traders  who 
make  it  their  business  to  furnish  them  for  the  Indians. 

Poisoned  arrows  are  the  most  deadly  weapons  the 
savages  use.  The  poison  is  prepared  by  imprisoning 
a  venomous  snake,  exciting  it  to  attack,  and  then  thrust- 


OK,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  77 

ing  the  arrow-point,  previously  attached  to  a  long  stick, 
into  its  mouth,  at  the  moment  the  reptile  ejects  poison 
ous  saliva.  The  arrow,  thus  envenomed,  having  once 
entered  the  flesh  of  a  person,  all  hope  is  over.  The  sting 
is  not  remediable  by  medicine,  and  death  is  the  only 
relief  for  which  the  unfortunate  victim  can  hope. 

Happening  to  discover  a  comb,  many  of  them 
straightened  their  hair,  and  finally  offered  the  instru 
ment  to  me.  Though  I  would  have  preferred  my 
own  comb,  I  feared  to  refuse  theirs,  and,  taking 
the  pins  from  my  long  hair,  it  fell  loosely  over  my 
shoulders.  I  was  proceeding  to  smooth  it  when  the 
chief  noticed  it,  and  regarded  me  with  a  darkening 
and  dissatisfied  frown.  After  a  few  moments  of 
gloomy  hesitation,  he  took  a  great  knife  from  his  belt, 
whetted  it,  examined  the  edge,  and,  turning  to  his 
men,  addressed  them  in  a  brief  speech  in  their  own 
language;  then,  approaching  me,  he  said,  "I  must 
take  your  hair." 

My  fears  had  been  aroused  by  his  savage  look  and 
flourishing  gestures  when  addressing  his  men,  and 
now,  as  the  gleaming  knife  neared  my  head,  remem 
bering  he  had  given  me  no  assurance  of  personal  kind 
ness,  and  that  his  conduct  toward  his  men  through  the 
morning  had  been  expressive  of  a  very  cruel  nature, 
I  had  but  little  hope  of  mercy  at  his  hands. 

Frank  lay  sleeping  by  my  side  upon  the  ground : 

surely  some  blessed  angel  soothed  his  slumbers ;  for 

had  he  awakened  and,  seeing  my  danger,  cried  out, 

his  life  would  have  been  sacrificed,  or  we  both  might 

7* 


78  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE 


have  fallen  victims  to  the  easily  excited  wrath  of  the 
chief.  One  Indian  had  seemed  obliging,  and  another 
had  been  inclined  to  be  communicative  in  English,  and 
had  given  assurances  of  good  will.  I  arose  hastily, 
and  going  to  the  old  man  that  could  talk  English, 
solicited  his  protection.  He  was  also  alarmed  for  my 
fate,  and  this  unpleasant  discovery  increased  my  fears. 
Turning  to  their  leader,  he  addressed  him  in  their  lan 
guage,  in  an  earnest,  pleading  manner,  by  \vhich  I 
understood  that  the  chief  held  supreme  authority  over 
his  men. 

For  a  while  the  stern  features  retained  their  inflex 
ible  severity,  but  finally  yielding  under  the  influence 
of  the  earnest  pleadings,  he  replaced  the  knife  in  his 
belt  and  turned  away.  Though  it  was  only  my  hair 
he  had  intended  to  sever,  the  Indian  had  caused  me  no 
trifling  uneasiness,  and  I  was  inexpressibly  relieved  by 
his  changed  manner  and  action.  This  Indian,  named 
Tokitchey,  though  old,  decrepit,  and  partially  blind, 
was  a  great  war-chief,  holding  supreme  control  over 
several  bands  of  his  tribe.  His  authority  being 
unquestioned,  he  was  zealously  obeyed,  though,  from 
his  inhuman  disposition,  he  was  not  loved  by  his  war 
riors.  Sixty  years  of  his  life  had  been  spent  in 
rapacity  and  bloodshed.  In  his  youth  he  had  distin 
guished  himself  as  the  most  daring  warrior  of  his  band, 
and,  while  yet  a  boy,  won  renown  upon  the  war-path, 
by  carrying  his  lance  in  defiance  into  the  camp  of  the 
Grows  and  Shoshonees.  Being  promoted  to  war- 
chief  for  intrepid  and  successful  conflict  with  the 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  79 

Pawnees  and  other  tribes,  he  gained  honor,  and  his 
power  being  increased,  he  even  faced  the  Comanches 
in  hostile  encounter  upon  the  Arkansas  River. 
During  the  Minnesota  war  he  again  dug  up  the  hatchet, 
and,  with  his  young  braves,  ravaged  the  border  with 
more  than  usual  success.  His  name  had  become  a 
terror  and  a  watch-cry  in  Indian  warfare.  Nor  were 
his  cruelties  confined  to  enemies,  but  extended  into  his 
private  life,  and  it  was  his  boast  that  very  many  men 
had  fallen  by  his  hands,  and  that  his  teepa  was  orna 
mented  by  the  pictures  of  the  scalp-locks  of  several  of 
his  wives,  who  had  fallen  victims  to  jealous  hatred. 

It  being  the  duty  of  the  chief  in  their  encampments 
to  instruct  the  youth,  Tokitchey,  after  smoking  his 
pipe,  and  offering  it  to  several  others,  who  in  turn  took 
a  whiff,  proceeded  to  tell  the  following  story,  which 
was  translated  by  the  kind  old  man  to  whom  reference 
has  been  made : 

"  When  I  was  a  boy,  scarce  twelve  years  old,  I  had 
a  friend — a  boy  of  my  own  age  —  whose  parents  were 
dead.  We  were  sincerely  attached  to  each  other,  and 
were  companions  in  all  our  pursuits,  and  often  rode 
among  the  hills  together,  sometimes  for  pleasure,  and 
frequently  to  hunt,  and  often  tried  the  speed  of  our 
animals  in  the  valleys  or  upon  the  mountain-sides. 
On  one  occasion,  when  riding  over  a  huge  pile  of 
rocks,  in  pursuit  of  a  deer,  my  friend's  pony  fell,  and 
rolled  over  the  boy,  breaking  a  leg  and  an  arm 
of  my  friend.  I  dragged  him  from  his  painful  posi 
tion  under  the  horse,  and,  fearing  to  leave  him  alone, 


80  THE   CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

turned  his  pony  loose,  and  started  it  in  the  direction 
of  our  camp.  The  wounds  were  severe,  rendering  ifc 
impossible  for  the  boy  either  to  walk  alone  or  ride 
my  horse ;  and  as  no  assistance  came  to  us,  I  waited 
two  days,  suffering,  meantime,  both  hunger  and  thirst. 
Then,  my  friend's  agony  becoming  almost  intolerable, 
I  started  for  the  village,  and,  reaching  a  hill  that  over 
looked  it,  I  was  surprised  to  see  no  traces  of  either 
tents  or  people. 

"I  was  surprised  that  my  friends  would  thus  forsake 
me,  and  was  considering  what  would  be  best  to  do, 
when  a  party  of  Comanches  surrounded  and  captured 
me,  taking  an  eastward  direction.  I  was  told  that 
a  war-party  had  invaded  the  village,  but  that  the  people 
had  all  fled,  taking  their  teepas  with  them.  The 
humiliation  of  my  position  was  indeed  slight  com 
pared  to  the  sufferings  of  my  friend,  as  he  lay  alone, 
looking  and  longing  for  me,  whom  he  would  never 
doubt,  until  death  relieved  him  from  his  sufferings. 
How  bitter  must  have  been  his  disappointment,  as  I 
failed  to  come !  For  years  my  dreams  were  haunted 
by  his  dying  groans.  I  imagined  I  saw  him  lying 
prostrate  with  hunger,  thirst,  and  his  wound,  and 
being  torn  and  eaten  by  wolves,  and,  as  the  spirit 
could  bear  no  more,  turn  a  last  look  for  me — and  I 
was  not  coming.  This  was  more  than  I  could  endure. 
Through  cunning  and  watchfulness,  I  escaped  from 
my  captors;  but  the  bones  of  my  friend  I  never 
found.  Returning  to  my  own  people,  I  promised  the 
Great  Spirit  to  avenge  my  imprisonment  and  my  dear 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  81 

friend's  death.  Years  later,  when  I  had  become  a 
man,  I  sought  out  the  people  who  had  injured  me, 
and,  taking  with  me  a  party  of  my  own  men,  we 
invaded  their  village,  scattering  and  slaughtering  all 
that  dared  offer  resistance.  But  this  did  not  satisfy 
me,  and,  soon  after  returning  home,  we  went  again ; 
but  the  Comanches,  having  been  surprised  and  caused 
to  suffer  by  our  invasion,  were  preparing  for  defence, 
and  we  dared  not  enter  their  village,  but  determined 
on  a  secret  plundering  expedition,  succeeding  in  steal 
ing  each  a  young  squaw.  She  who  fell  to  my  share 
was  beautiful  as  a  fawn.  I  loved  her,  and  in  time  she 
became  my  wife,  and  I  called  her  Drooping  Flower. 
But  my  desire  for  revenge  was  not  satisfied,  and  I 
again  led  an  expedition  to  steal  and  murder.  Among 
my  victims  was  a  lame  man.  In  his  flight  I  struck 
him  down  with  my  tomahawk,  and  scalped  him  while 
yet  alive.  When  we  had  returned,  telling  of  our  dar 
ing  feats,  showing  the  scalps  we  had  taken,  Drooping 
Flower  was  sad ;  and  though  I  felt  brave  and  proud 
of  what  I  had  done,  she  refused  to  hold  a  scalp  in  the 
dance.  When  I  demanded  an  explanation  for  her 
strange  actions,  she  told  me  all,  and  I  learned  the 
story  of  her  youth.  I  had  slain  her  father,  whom  she 
loved  and  honored.  But  even  this  knowledge,  though 
it  grieved  me  for  my  wife's  sake,  gave  me  no  remorse 
ful  pangs,  for  I  felt  an  unquenchable  hatred  against  the 
people  who  had  made  my  home  desolate  and  caused 
my  beloved  friend  to  perish  alone.  But  when,  by 
degrees,  Drooping  Flower  spoke  of  her  father,  describ- 


82  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE. 

ing  him,  and  telling  his  name  and  his  history,  I  dis 
covered  the  awful  truth  that,  in  endeavoring  to  avenge 
the  supposed  death  of  my  friend,  I  had  murdered 
him,  and  his  eyes  turned  upon  me  their  last  look,  as 
I,  with  one  sweep  of  my  knife,  severed  the  scalp. 

11  He  had  been  found  by  the  marauders  that  chased 
my  people  and  captured  me,  and  carefully  nursed. 
When  he  recovered,  remembering  their  kindness,  and 
knowing  nothing  of  their  cruelty  to  his  'friends,  he 
remained  with  them,  and,  marrying  one  of  their 
daughters,  became  the  father  of  the  young  squaw  I 
had  abducted  and  married. 

"  For  a  while  the  knowledge  of  my  vengeance  preyed 
on  my  life  and  darkened  its  joys ;  but  to  mourn  was 
not  brave.  To  look  upon  Drooping  Flower  caused  me 
trouble,  and  I  sent  her  to  her  mother;  and,  yielding 
to  a  redoubled  thirst  for  revenge,  I  drew  my  long  knife 
and  bow  against  my  neighbors ;  for  I  hated  my  ene 
mies  with  bitterness,  since  they  had  driven  me  first  to 
desert  and  then  to  murder  my  friend." 

This  story  seemed  to  be  an  index  pointing  to  the 
character  of  the  great  chief,  whose  commands  were 
religiously  obeyed.  He  was  then  the  husband  of  eight 
wives,  and  the  father  of  a  very  large  family. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

CONTINUATION  OF  THE  JOURNEY  —  THIRD  ENCAMPMENT — 
FLIGHT  WITH  THE  CHILD  —  EXTREME  THIRST — INDIANS 
—  DISCOVERY  OF  WATER  —  JOURNEY  ALONE.  >, 

TWO  hours  were  spent  in  this  beautiful  camp? 
when  we  proceeded  upon  the  journey  in  a  north 
ern  direction.  After  travelling  ten  miles,  we  again 
found  water,  and  they  all  halted  to  rest  a  little  and 
quench  their  thirst.  The  sun  was  fast  sinking  in 
the  west.  With  a  feeble  hope  of  being  overtaken  by 
friends,  I  pleaded  fatigue,  and  asked  the  privilege  of 
remaining  by  the  brook  until  the  next  morning;  but 
my  entreaties  were  disregarded,  they  having  deter 
mined  to  proceed  several  miles  up  the  valley  before 
stopping  for  their  night's  encampment.  We  trav 
elled  until  after  dark.  The  third  camp  was  in  a 
secluded  hook  of  the  valley:  it  was  entered  at  the  base 
of  a  succession  of  bluffs  and  rocky  peaks  that  almost 
surrounded  it.  Amid  these  encircling  hills  it  lay, 
a  small  meadow,  watered  by  a  little  brook  —  or  pos 
sibly  it  was  a  creek  of  some  size  in  other  seasons  of 
the  year,  but  now  almost  dry.  The  enclosure  was 
dotted  by  numerous  bushes  that  were  covered  with 
green  foliage. 

The  moon  set  early,  and  in  the  dim  starlight  could 

83 


84:  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

be  seen  the  frowning  bluffs  that  shut  us  in  on  every 
side  like  the  grim  walls  of  a  fortress.  Our  carriage 
horses  were  brought  in,  and,  as  I  looked  upon  them, 
their  familiar  faces  were  like  the  countenances  of  dear 
old  friends,  and  the  thought  of  their  services  through 
so  many  years,  and  through  our  journeyings  on  the 
plains,  rushed  through  my  memory.  It  was  the  last 
look  at  those  dear,  faithful  creatures,  who,  like  us, 
were  introduced  to  a  wild,  roving  life. 

Bushes  were  cut  off  at  the  ground  and  placed  in  a 
circular  and  conical  form,  meeting  at  the  top,  and 
over  them  coverings  were  stretched,  making  comfort 
able  shelters,  each  large  enough  for  one  person  to  repose 
in.  One  of  these  little  teepas,  furnished  with  some 
bedding,  was  generously  placed  at  my  disposal ;  and, 
taking  my  child  in  my  arms,  I  retired.  Frank,  being 
weary  with  his  fatiguing  journey,  soon  fell  asleep. 
The  thirty  hours  of  our  peril  and  privations  had 
made  sorrow  painfully  apparent  upon  his  dear  little 
face;  yet,  true  to  my  injunctions,  not  a  tear  trembled 
in  his  eyes,  nor  a  word  of  complaint  passed  his  lips, 
nor  glance  of  impatience  darkened  his  brow,  but 
quiet  sorrow  was  impressed  on  every  feature,  while 
the  cheerful  brightness  of  his  eyes  seemed  quenched 
when  he  sat  in  silent  thoughtful  ness. 

I  had  from  the  first  endeavored  to  gain  the  confi 
dence  of  the  Indians,  and  cause  them  to  believe  we 
were  resigned  to  our  fate,  that,  their  vigilance  relax 
ing,  a  chance  for  escape  might  present  itself.  Several 
small  fires  were  made  in  the  camp,  which  gave  it  a 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  85 

cheerful  appearance,  and  by  each  a  guard  was  sta 
tioned.  One  being  burning  near  the  door  of  my  little 
teepa,  a  guard  was  near  us.  The  child  lay  peacefully 
sleeping,  and  I  silently  watching  and  waiting  until 
between  midnight  and  morning,  when,  all  being  still, 
I  arose  noiselessly  and  looked  out  on  the  scene.  The 
fires  had  burned  low,  and  the  guards  appeared  to 
slumber,  overcome,  doubtless,  by  the  fatigue  of  the  pre 
vious  day's  march,  and  lulled  to  carelessness  by  our  ap 
parent  resignation  to  o-ur  fate  and  the  knowledge  of  the 
distance  we  were  from  the  fort.  Softly  stepping,  lest 
my  foot  should  touch  the  slumbering  form  of  an 
Indian,  I  made  my  way  to  the  place  I  thought  my 
friend  and  fellow-prisoner  Mrs.  Kelley  lay,  her  bed 
having  been  made  in  the  open  air ;  but,  in  the  dark 
ness,  I  could  not  distinguish  one  figure  from  another ; 
and,  fearing  I  would  be  discovered  if  I  endeavored 
to  search  closely  —  remembering,  too,  that  she  had 
said  in  the  evening  she  would  endeavor  to  take  a  horse 
that  night  and  go  back,  I  hoped  she  had  succeeded,  and 
retraced  my  steps  to  the  door  of  my  shelter. 

A  terrible  sense  of  isolation  overcame  me.  No  one 
can  realize  the  sensation  without  in  some  degree  expe 
riencing  it.  In  the  heart  of  a  wilderness,  a  thousand 
miles  from  home,  and  a  prisoner  in  the  camp  of  a  band 
of  hostile  savages,  with  but  a  life  of  slavish  wander 
ings  for  myself  and  child,  there  was  but  one  glimpse 
of  light  in  all  this  darkness,  and  that  was  flight! 
But  between  the  camp  and  the  civilized  world  were 
many  difficulties  —  to  pass  the  guards;  to  keep  the 
8 


86 

points  of  the  compass,  in  the  trackless  wilderness ; 
pursuers  to  elude;  hunger  and  thirst  to  endure;  pos 
sibly  ravenous  beasts  of  prey  and  venomous  reptiles 
to  encounter.  To  remain,  was  a  life  of  bondage, 
and  the  companionship  of  barbarous  Indians.  I 
resolved  to  make  an  attempt  to  escape,  and  touching 
the  child,  he  awoke,  and  I  lifted  him  from  the  bed  ; 
fearing  that  he  might  be  only  partially  awakened  and 
become  frightened,  I  whispered,  "I  am  about  starting 
for  home ;  "  and,  clasping  him  closely  in  my  arms,  I 
looked  around  to  discover  any  danger.  All  was  quiet ; 
not  a  sound,  save  the  breathing  of  the  sleepers,  broke 
the  silence.  A  few  dim  stars  shone  above  the  rocky 
peaks  that  surrounded  us.  Pressing  him  to  my 
bosom  in  unspoken  assurance  of  my  fearless  resolu 
tion  to  save  him,  I  stepped  noiselessly,  but  rapidly, 
across  the  camp  to  the  place  where  we  had  entered  it, 
and  in  precaution,  instead  of  turning  to  the  south  by 
the  way  we  had  come,  climbed  a  bluff  to  the  west 
ward,  hoping  in  this  way  to  evade  pursuers. 

This  bluff  was  succeeded  by  another,  and  still  others, 
which  I  climbed  until  my  strength  failed,  under  the 
laborious  labor  and  weight  of  my  child,  and  I  could 
carry  him  no  farther.  Then,  placing  him  upon  the 
ground,  I  adjured  him  to  run  and  climb  for  his  life. 
He  realized  the  necessity  of  doing  this,  and  brought 
all  his  energies  to  the  task.  Thus  we  travelled  in  a 
southwesterly  direction  until  morning.  Judging  it 
unsafe  to  travel  in  daylight,  we  sought  a  cation,  and 
concealed  ourselves  under  the  side  of  a  projecting 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  87 

rock,  where  we  remained  in  silent  watchfulness  until 
iate  in  the  afternoon.  But,  although  secreted  from  our 
savage  foes,  who  had  discovered  our  abseilfce  at  early 
dawn,  and  instituted  a  search  which  lasted  until 
almost  noon,  a  scarcely  less  terrible  enemy,  in  the  form 
of  thirst,  seized  us,  threatening  our  lives.  Of  hunger 
we  had  no  consciousness,  although  it  was  a  fast  from 
seven  meals,  but  water  became  the  one  absorbing 
thought — in  it  even  our  danger  from  Indians  seemed 
forgotten.  "Mother,"  said  little  Frank,  as  we  were 
travelling  the  previous  day,  "  I  would  rather  go  up 
to  God  than  go  with  the  Indians;.27  but,  when  his 
lips  became  parched,  his  throat  dry,  his  tongue  pro 
truding  so  that  he  could  scarcely  speak,  he  said, 
"  Mother,  we  might  as  well  have  been  killed  by  the 
savages  as  to  die  of  thirst  in  this  carton ; "  and  he 
seemed  to  sink  as  a  fading  flower  under  the  midday  sun. 

In  childhood  I  had  listened  to  my  grandmother's 
stories  of  Indian  cruelties,  while  at  night  my  dreams 
had  been  haunted  with  the  horrible  phantoms  of  those 
recitals.  To  prevent  my  boy's  brain  becoming  a  prey 
to  equally  dreary  visions,  I  had  forbidden  such  nar 
ratives  being  related  in  the  presence  of  Frank ;  but 
it  was  reserved  for  him  to  taste  the  reality  of  those 
dreadful  legends,  and  realize  the  bitterness  of  fear  I 
had  shrunk  from  in  description. 

Crouched  in  the  shadow  of  our  rock  of  refuge,  endea 
voring  to  console  the  child  with  cheering  stories  and  as 
surances  that  water  would  be  at  last  obtained,  I  thought 
of  many  characters  in  romance  and  history  wherein  the 


88  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE  ; 

Indian  is  enshrined  in  beauty.  The  untutored  nobil 
ity  of  soul,  the  brave  and  lofty  spirit,  the  simple  dig 
nity,  untrammelled  by  the  ceremonies  of  a  hollow 
world,  with  many  other  traits  of  noble  character  attri 
buted  to  him,  rose  mockingly  before  me,  in  strange  con 
trast  with  the  realities  we  had  just  escaped  from.  The 
stately  Logan,  the  fearless  Philip,  the  invincible  Te- 
cumseh,  the  bold  Black  Hawk,  and  the  gentle  Poca- 
hontas  —  how  unlike  the  greedy,  cunning,  and  ruthless 
savages  we  had  seen  !  Truly,  those  pictures  of  the  chil 
dren  of  the  forest  that  adorn  the  pages  of  the  novelist 
are  delightful  conceptions  of  the  airy  fancy,  fitted  to 
charm  the  mind  —  they  amuse  and  beguile  the  hour. 
But  the  true  savage  roams  his  native  wastes ;  and  to 
study  his  real  character  so  much  must  be  sacrificed, 
that  few  persons  become  really  acquainted  with  him. 

By  some,  a  remarkable  sagacity  is  attributed  to  the 
Indian.  It  is  even  said  they  can  discern  footprints 
upon  a  rock,  and  follow  scents  of  footsteps  upon  the 
ground;  but  these  ideas  are  dreams  of  fancy.  The 
Indians  cultivate  the  powers  of  the  eye  and  the  ear, 
and  arrive  at  a  great  degree  of  acuteness  in  those  or 
gans;  which,  however,  might  be  equally  the  posses 
sion  of  any  other  people.  Indeed,  their  custom  of 
plucking  out  the  eyebrows  and  lashes,  thus  exposing 
the  pupils  to  sun  and  dust,  might  be  supposed  to  be 
injurious  to  the  eyes. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  when  thirst  had  become  al 
most  intolerable,  fearing  Frank's  sufferings  for  water 
would  disable  him  for  travel,  his  strength  already  fail- 


89 

ing,  I  concluded  to  go  from  our  place  of  concealment 
and  endeavor  to  view  the  face  of  the  country  >  and  ac 
cordingly  I  cautiously  stepped  over  the  sand  to  the 
base  of  a  huge  rock,  and  ventured  to  climb  its  craggy 
side  until  I  could  overlook  the  surrounding  country ; 
but  could  see  no  living  creature.  The  Indian  camp 
had  been  left  several  miles  to  the  northeastward,  and 
the  bluffs  over  which  we  had  travelled,  intervening, 
effectually  concealed  the  valley  from  view. 

The  surrounding  country  seemed  avast  pile  of  sand, 
interspersed  with  huge  rocks,  productive  of  nothing 
but  sage-bush  and  cactus  —  the  former  growing  from 
a  few  inches  to  several  feet  in  height,  and  literally  cov 
ering  the  country  for  miles  in  extent.  This  herb  is 
used  by  the  Indians  for  fuel :  it  is  somewhat  like  the 
cultivated  sage,  having  a  strong  taste  that  resembles 
the  flavor  of  that  herb.  Its  prolific  growth,  however, 
was  almost  equalled  in  some  sections  by  the  cactus, 
which  covered  the  ground  for  miles  in  extent,  and  its 
numerous  formidable  thorns  repel  intrusion  wherever 
it  spreads. 

Returning  to  Frank,  and  my  fears  for  his  failing 
strength  arousing  me  to  the  necessity  of  procuring 
water,  I  resolved  to  leave  the  canon  for  that  purpose. 
He  was  anxious  to  make  every  effort  his  strength 
would  permit,  and  we  began  to  climb  the  rocks  at  the 
side  of  the  canon  opposite  our  place  of  entrance,  with 
the  view  of  leaving  still  another  obstacle  between  us  and 
the  Indians'  camp.  Here  a  whip  and  lash  were  found, 
proving  that  the  place  had  been  visited  before.  A 
8* 


90  THE    CAPTURE   AND  ESCAPE  ; 

little  squirrel  came  frisking  along,  and,  on  discover 
ing  us,  seemed  amazed  to  see  intruders  there,  and, 
after  a  few  glances  with  its  bright  little  eyes,  whisked 
away  among  the  rocks  and  sand  from  whence  it  came. 
Then  a  little  bird  alighted  upon  a  point  and  flut 
tered  about  in  quest  of  something  it  did  not  find, 
soon  winging  its  way  to  another  place,  leaving  the 
solitude  to  us. 

"VVe  began  to  ascend  the  craggy  height,  and  soon 
stood  upon  its  summit ;  but  the  work  of  descending 
was  not  a  trifling  undertaking,  and  required  some  time 
and  patience.  When  the  ground  was  reached,  we  im 
mediately  started  to  the  southeastward,  with  a  hope 
of  arriving  at  the  valley  we  had  left  in  the  morning, 
a  few  miles  south  of  the  Indian  camp.  But  now  a 
painful  reality  interposed.  When  escaping  from  the 
camp,  having  not  worn  my  shoes,  but  carrying  them 
in  my  hand,  hoping  in  this  way  to  avoid  leaving 
tracks  in  the  sand,  I  had,  in  the  darkness,  walked  into 
a  vast  bed  of  cactus  rife  with  thorns,  which  had 
penetrated  my  feet  in  a  painful  manner.  On  the  dis 
covery  of  the  pitiless  thorns,  I  had  caught  the  child 
up  and  carried  him  through,  thus  saving  him  the  pain 
he  otherwise  must  have  suffered,  and,  disregarding  the 
piercing  needles,  had  hastened  on.  Possibly,  it  was 
there  our  pursuers  were  eluded,  for  it  was  not  deemed 
probable  that  any  person  would  undertake  to  cross  an 
unknown  bed  of  cactus. 

Now,  when  I  pressed  my  feet  to  the  ground,  the 
thorns  caused  no  little  pain.  Frank,  sympathizing 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  91 

•with  me  in  this  torture,  begged  that  I  would  endeavor 
to  forget  it  in  the  recollection  of  the  urgent  necessity 
of  travelling,  as  he  had  found  his  thirst  grow  more 
intense  by  dwelling  upon  it. 

After  a  walk  of  several  miles,  we  arrived  at  the 
valley  where  we  had  hoped  to  find  water ;  but,  alas ! 
the  stream  had  sunk  under  the  surface,  leaving,  how 
ever,  some  wet  mud  in  the  bed  of  the  creek.  At  the 
disappointment  Frank  wept,  for  his  thirst  was  intense; 
but  Heaven  in  mercy  suggested  a  plan  by  which  a  few 
drops  of  the  delicious  liquid  might  be  obtained.  Frank 
wore  two  shirts  :  I  divested  him  of  one,  and  by  placing 
some  of  the  moist  earth  in  it,  and  pressing  it  with  my 
hands,  a  few  drops  of  water  were  obtained,  which  fell, 
like  pearls,  into  the  mouth  of  the  child.  It  was  a 
most  welcome  draught,  though  muddy,  and  much 
impregnated  with  iron.  It  brought  back  the  life  that 
seemed  ebbing  under  the  torture  of  thirst.  According 
to  the  geographical  account  of  the  country,  this  was 
probably  the  head  of  Sage  Creek.  Abundance  of  tall 
grass  grew  in  the  valley,  and  a  few  rose-bushes  were 
scattered  upon  little  knolls  that  dotted  it,  and  though 
the  season  for  roses  was  almost  over,  a  few  were  left 
blooming.  We  followed  the  stream,  or  rather  the  val 
ley,  for  one  or  two  miles,  and  could  see  the  prints  of 
footsteps  of  birds  in  the  moist  earth,  as  they  too  had 
searched  for  water. 

Nothing  of  animal  life  was  seen,  except  a  deer,  that 
leaped  from  its  covert  at  our  approach,  and  escaped 
over  the  hills. 


U2  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

Finally  we  came  to  a  little  pool  of  water  that  tena 
ciously  held  its  position  in  the  bed  of  the  creek.  Its 
surface  was  covered  by  a  green  scum,  and  innumerable 
little  snakes  darted  about  on  seeing  us  approach,  and 
seemed,  by  their  hasty  movements  of  swimming  from 
shore  to  shore,  lapping  their  slender  tongues,  darting 
keen  glances  from  their  gleaming  little  eyes,  to  resent 
our  approach.  We,  however,  were  •  persevering,  and, 
in  spite  of  their  hostile  demonstrations  and  hurried 
movements,  advanced  to  the  brink,  and  stooped  to 
drink  of  the  tempting  liquid;  first,  however,  taking 
the  precaution  of  frightening  the  reptiles  away,  and 
spreading  a  cloth  upon  the  surface ;  and  we  only  drank 
of  what  strained  through,  lest  we  might  swallow  some 
tiny  reptiles. 

Farther  down  the  valley  more  water  was  found. 
But  soon  the  creek,  with  its  lovely  green,  turned  to 
the  eastward,  and  we  were  compelled  to  leave  it  and 
pursue  our  way  southward,  over  the  dry  and  desolate 
hills. 

The  sun  was  fast  sinking  behind  the  western  peaks, 
and  we  only  awaited  the  friendly  shadows  of  night  to 
pursue  our  way  over  the  wild  and  arid  heights  before 
us,  not  daring  to  venture  in  daylight,  lest  the  watch 
ful  eye  of  a  wary  savage  should  detect  our  movements. 
Having  procured  some  moist  earth  in  a  cloth  for  its 
dampness,  in  case  no  water  could  be  found  on  the  road, 
we  treasured  it  as  a  preserver  of  life. 

While  sitting  in  a  sheltered  retreat,  awaiting  the 
sun's  decline,  we  observed,  to  the  northward,  a  small 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  93 

party  of  Indians  advancing,  but  apparently  uncon 
scious  of  our  presence  in  the  vicinity.  They  were  at 
a  distance  of  several  hundred  yards,  and  were  not 
recognized  as  being  of  the  party  we  had  escaped  from. 
Our  only  safety  was  in  concealment.  Cautiously  we 
crept  to  some  large  bunches  of  sage-bush,  and  were 
shielded  by  their  protecting  leaves.  Yet  painful  sus 
pense  was  endured,  as  the  savages  approached  and 
passed  within  a  few  yards  of  us. 

As  night  spread  her  sable  mantle  over  the  hills,  bring 
ing  coolness  and  repose  to  the  weary,  the  young  moon 
shone  faintly,  and  a  few  stars  could  be  seen  ;  but  silence 
reigned :  not  even  a  sound  of  the  murmur  of  water  or 
hum  of  insects  could  be  heard  upon  the  clear  air.  I 
arose,  and  felt  in  the  darkness  for  the  child.  He  slept 
where  last  I  saw  him.  It  was  cruel  to  disturb  that 
needed  rest,  yet  many  miles  of  weary  walking  lay 
between  us  and  our  own  people.  With  a  silent  prayer 
to  God  for  protection,  I  awoke  him,  and  we  proceeded 
upon  the  journey. 

As  we  ascended  the  hills  the  wind  arose,  blowing 
fresh  and  cold.  We  continued  to  walk  all  night,  look 
ing  stealthily  on  every  side  for  the  approach  of  danger, 
and  expecting  at  any  moment  we  might  overtake  the 
band  that  had  passed  us  in  the  evening,  in  their  night 
encampment.  Just  before  daybreak  the  darkness  was 
intense,  and  the  way  so  rugged  that  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  wait  until  morning,  which  would  give  a 
view  of  our  surroundings.  Accordingly  we  went 
aside  a  few  steps  to  seek  a  hiding-place  beneath  the 


94 

shelter  of  some  sage-bush.  Soon  the  weary  child  fell 
asleep,  but  the  intense  anxiety  for  water  prevented  me 
from  finding  rest.  We  had  seen  no  signs  of  water 
since  we  left  Sage  Creek,  and  it  might  yet  be  days 
before  it  could  be  obtained. 

The  horrors  of  our  situation  were  harassing  to  con 
template,  and  once  a  thought  of  returning  to  the  pool 
we  had  left  presented  itself;  but  reason  coming  to  aid 
a  better  resolution,  the  cowardly  suggestion  was  ban 
ished,  and,  as  the  first  rays  of  daylight  tinged  the 
eastern  horizon,  I  arose  to  look  upon  the  surrounding 
country.  The  wolves  seemed  congregated  upon  the 
highlands,  and,  awaking  from  their  night's  repose, 
their  wailing  cries  echoed  back  from  the  distant  hills 
with  terrific  clearness. 

These  prowling  creatures  abound  in  that  country, 
where  some  species  attain  a  great  size.  They  congre 
gate  in  large  numbers,  attacking  the  stray  animals  they 
happen  to  meet.  Even  the  buffalo,  which  does  not 
fear  them  in  the  herd,  knows  his  danger  when  over 
taken  alone;  and  the  solitary  bull,  secreted  from  its 
hunter,  succumbs  before  the  united  force  of  a  gang  of 
wolves. 

Advantage  is  sometimes  taken  of  the  unsuspecting 
buffalo  by  the  Indian,  who  covers  himself  with  a  wolf 
skin,  and  creeping  cautiously,  is  permitted  to  approach 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  herd,  when  he  is  able  to 
discharge  his  arrows  with  deadly  effect.  In  this  way 
great  slaughter  is  sometimes  made  by  the  cunning 
savages.  Each  secures  a  piece  of  meat  for  present  use, 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG    THE   SIOUX.  95 

leaving  the  carcass  to  become  a  feast  for  wolves  — thus 
wasting  their  own  game. 

When  the  day  became  clear,  a  green  valley  could 
be  seen  to  the  southward,  and,  dreading  the  agony  of 
thirst  Frank  might  suffer,  I  concluded  to  mark  the 
place,  and  proceed  in  search  of  water  alone.  Being 
soon  convinced  that  the  hope  was  not  delusive,  and 
that  it  really  could  be  obtained,  I  returned  for  Frank, 
and,  to  my  horror,  could  not  find  the  spot  where  I  had 
left  him.  The  direction  was  not  lost,  but,  in  my  eager 
ness,  I  had  travelled  farther  than  I  had  anticipated. 
For  a  while  I  searched  with  anxious  dread,  with  fran 
tic  ardor  hastening  through  the  sage-bushes;  but  a 
great  sameness  prevailed,  each  place  appearing  much 
like  another. 

At  length  he  awoke,  and,  finding  himself  alone, 
stood  up  and  cried.  My  joy  was  great,  for  truly  "  the 
lost  was  found."  Together  we  hastened  into  the  val 
ley,  and  on  the  way  thither  came  into  a  deserted  Indian 
camp,  and  from  its  relics  selected  a  pair  of  abandoned 
moccasins,  which,  being  bound  upon  Frank's  bruised 
and  bleedjng  feet,  served  as  a  shield  to  protect  them 
from  the  scorching  sand.  Farther  in  the  valley,  cov 
ered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  grass,  we  found  a 
creek  flowing  over  a  bed  of  unusually  white  sand. 
This  water  was  very  cold,  and  though  of  the  depth 
of  two  feet,  was  so  clear  that  it  appeared  to  be  but  a 
mere  ripple  above  the  sand. 

This  section  was  evidently  a  great  Indian  rendez 
vous,  and,  lest  we  be  observed,  it  was  necessary  to 


96  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

seek  a  secluded  place  in  which  to  spend  the  dnv. 
Looking  about,  we  discovered  the  mouth  of  a  small 
creek  that  emptied  into  this  stream  from  the  south 
west.  Thither  we  went,  and  found  the  waters,  though 
occupying  so  nearly  the  same  section  of  country,  to 
be  in  great  contrast  with  the  first  creek  —  one  being 
of  icy  coldness  and  clear  as  crystal ;  the  other  warm 
and  stagnant,  and  of  a  greenish  color. 

With  the  conviction  that  Indians  would  probably 
make  their  encampments  near  the  best  water  and  most 
luxuriant  grass,  we  selected  our  secluded  retreat  for 
the  day  near  the  other. 

This  temporary  home  was  a  cavity  in  the  side  of  a 
bluff,  rising  perpendicularly  from  the  valley  at  the 
southward.  It  had  been  formed  by  the  action  of 
water  that  flowed  from  the  hills  into  the  valley  in  wet 
seasons.  It  was  of  oval  shape,  and  about  thirty  feet 
in  length,  with  perpendicular  walls  on  either  side, 
which  were  about  twenty  feet  high  and  twelve  feet 
apart. 

The  mouth  was  a  narrow  passage,  which  had  been 
formed  by  the  outward  flow  of  the  water  through  a 
rock;  and  in  this  natural  doorway  grew  clusters  of 
wild  rose-bushes,  which  concealed  the  entrance  from 
view ;  and  just  beyond  the  door  was  a  pool  of  water 
that,  like  a  good  fairy,  promised  to  keep  away  the  bane 
of  thirst.  This  was  a  tolerably  safe  retreat,  if  our 
tracks  should  not  be  discovered  and  guide  the  savages 
to  our  seclusion. 

The  sun  arose  in  all  its  majestic  beauty — not  a  cloud 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  97 

intervened  to  obscure  the  golden  rays,  as  they  tinged 
the  tops  of  lofty  peaks  and  nestled  into  silent  nooks, 
thus  overspreading  the  vast  arid  hills.  Not  even  a 
bird  was  seen  to  soar  or  flit  upward,  and  but  the  mur 
mur  of  the  sparkling  brook  broke  the  silence  of  that 
long  and  ever-to-be-remembered  day. 

The  pool  of  water  near  our  door  was  of  a  green 
color,  and  inhabited  by  slender  dark-colored  reptiles, 
which  very  much  resembled  horse's  hairs,  and  were 
supposed  to  be  tiny  roots,  until  a  closer  observation 
revealed  the  truth  that  instead  of  floating  by  the  ac 
tion  of  the  water  they  possessed  animal  life,  and  had 
eyes,  and,  looking  at  us,  curved  their  slender  forms, 
seeming  to  resent  our  approach. 

They  were  about  twelve  inches  in  length,  and  not 
much,  if  any,  greater  in  circumference  than  a  hair  from 
a  horse's  mane;  but  on  close  observation  one  end  was 
discovered  to  be  larger,  about  the  size  of  the  head  of 
two  common  pins,  and  their  little  eyes  to  glisten  be 
neath  the  waters. 

9  Q 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A  SCANT  MEAL  —  A  DISCOVERY  —  BEAUTIFUL  EFFECT  OF  THE 
MIRAGE  UPON  THE  SCENERY  —  ARRIVAL  IN  SIGHT  OF  THE 
PLATTE — GRAND  SCENERY  —  JOYFUL  DISCOVERY  OF 
FRIENDS — BURIAL  OF  LITTLE  MARY. 

T  COKING  about  in  hope  of  finding  a  rose-bud, 
J-J  an  empty  egg-shell  was  discovered,  from  which 
the  little  warbler  had  winged  its  flight,  and  upon  this 
we  dined.  It  proved  to  be  the  only  meal  that  broke 
our  fast  of  four  days. 

Later  in  the  day,  when  on  a  cautious  visit  to  the 
neighboring  pool,  we  discovered  a  very  large  toad 
sitting  in  the  grass,  pouting  silently,  as  though  pon 
dering  over  some  great  wrong.  Frogs  are  eaten  by 
civilized  people,  but  toads  never;  nor  will  Indians 
use  them  for  food.  Their  appearance  is  repulsive  and 
disagreeable  to  such  an  extent  as  to  lead  to  the  belief 
that  they  are  a  poisonous  reptile ;  yet  it  has  been  said 
that  some  soldiers,  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  in 
great  extremity,  ate  them. 

This  toad  we  captured  and  carried  triumphantly  to 
our  cave ;  and  we  resolved  that,  whatever  its  exterior 
homeliness  might  be,  it  should  serve  as  a  shield  against 
a  day  of  starvation.  To  kill  it  without  a  weapon  was 
now  a  matter  of  consideration ;  and  finally  a  little  stick 

98 


THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE.  99 

was  procured  and  used  vigorously;  but  the  reptile  clung 
tenaciously  to  life,  and  only  yielded  under  repeated 
blows.  It  finally  lay  dead  upon  its  breast.  The 
dressing  now  became  a  matter  of  no  little  difficulty,  as 
the  loathsome  appearance  forbade  the  touch  of  the  hand. 
"With  the  aid  of  the  stick,  however,  the  undertak 
ing  was  finally  accomplished,  as  the  skin  was  only 
attached  to  the  body  at  the  lips  and  toes,  and  when  it 
was  thrown  out  of  sight,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the 
great  force  of  unpleasing  associations  attached,  the 
flesh  would  have  seemed  as  delicate  as  the  breast  of  a 
little  bird ;  yet  we  refrained  from  eating  it,  reserving 
it  for  a  greater  emergency,  our  prejudices  not  being 
easily  overcome.  It  is  said  these  creatures  undress 
themselves  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  and,  viewed 
by  an  "observer,  seem  to  disrobe  after  the  fashion  of 
men  — first  drawing  out  one  limb  and  then  the  other, 
and  in  like  manner  divesting  themselves  of  the 
sleeves.  When  the  operation  is  completed,  the  little 
fellow  suddenly  presents  himself  in  a  new  suit  of 
brown.  Perhaps  the  time  had  arrived  for  our  toad  to 
assume  new  apparel,  and  that  was  possibly  the  reason 
it  was  easily  divested  of  the  old. 

Some  rose-leaves  and  the  small  game  were  secured 
in  our  pockets,  and  at  night  some  moist  earth  was 
placed  in  a  cloth,  for  it  might  be  a  refreshing  balm  in 
the  absence  of  water.  Slowly  the  sun  went  down ; 
and  night  hovered  over  the  hills  as  we  resumed  our 
journey.  More  hills  were  to  be  climbed.  Soon  we 
discovered  that  the  mud  we  carried  in  the  cloth  would 


100       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE  ; 

not  retain  moisture,  and,  in  consequence,  was  worth 
less.  We  had  now  been  long  fasting,  and  the  absence 
of  food  aggravated  thirst. 

The  country  was  high  and  barren,  and  no  signs  of 
water  being  discovered,  a  fear  that  none  could  be  ob 
tained  haunted  us  as  night  wore  on.  At  length  the 
child's  strength  failed  to  such  a  degree  that  he  could 
walk  but  a  few  steps  in  succession,  and  must  rest  a 
little.  He  begged  to  be  permitted  to  lie  down,  but  I 
knew  it  would  be  unsafe  to  travel  in  daylight,  and, 
fearing  Frank  would  not  survive  the  next  day  unless 
water  be  procured,  I  endeavored  to  encourage  him 
onward  —  reminding  him  of  the  weary  hours  of  the 
previous  night ;  how  we  had  travelled  over  sandy 
heights  and  dreary  wastes  to  find  at  morning  dawn 
water  and  rest.  Now  the  night  was  far  spent,  and 
soon  a  new  day  would  come,  when  we  would  probably 
be  as  fortunate  as  before.  A  large  white  flower 
nodded  gracefully  on  its  slender  stalk,  and  seemed  a 
reminder  of  the  poppy  in  the  garden  of  our  Pennsyl 
vania  home.  Its  dwelling-place  was  among  the 
mountains,  where  it  stood  blooming  alone,  seeming, 
by  its  contentment  and  beauty,  to  mock  our  strivings. 
I  plucked  it  for  its  moisture  and  fragrance,  and  offered 
it  to  Frank,  but  he  declined  it,  remarking,  "  I  do  not 
care  for  flowers  now ; "  and,  trembling  under  the  in 
fluence  of  fatigue,  hunger,  and  thirst,  his  husky  voice 
and  pleading  eyes  again  begged  for  rest.  I  was  unable 
to  carry  him,  and  could  but  realize  the  painful  truth 
that  his  strength  was  exhausted.  I  sought  a  small 


OK,   LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  101 

wash  in  the  ground,  and,  taking  him  in  my  arms,  lay 
down  and  fell  asleep.  Soon  the  day  dawned,  when  the 
shrill  voices  of  the  wolves  rang  upon  the  clear  morning 
air,  rousing  us  to  a  sense  of  immediate  danger. 

A  little  sleep  had  revived  the  child  somewhat. 
We  arose,  and,  contrary  to  our  previous  intentions, 
began  to  travel  in  daylight.  The  danger  being  divided, 
and  it  being  scarcely  less  terrible  to  risk  the  withering 
influence  of  thirst  and  the  attack  of  ferocious  wolves 
in  our  seclusion  than  the  savages  in  travel — the  former 
evil  was  almost  certain  — and  as  our  way  was  not  to 
the  place  of  our  attack,  which  the  Indians  would  most 
likely  suspect,  we  hoped  to  elude  the  latter,  and  pro 
ceeded  on  our  lonely  walk. 

It  was  not  exclusively  a  time  of  suffering;  for 
though  cast  out,  as  it  were,  from  the  world,  there 
was  magnificent  scenery  to  enjoy.  A  grand  panorama 
spread  in  majestic  beauty  before  us ;  yet  not  as  splen 
did  as  is  that  sometimes  seen  in  this  mountainous 
country,  where  the  most  sublime  objects  in  nature 
are  crowded  into  a  scene  as  wild  and  beautiful  as 
imagination  can  picture.  The  rarity  of  the  atmo 
sphere,  nowhere  more  inviting  than  on  the  vast  slopes 
and  plateaus  of  the  Kocky  Mountains,  gives  to  every 
thing  a  mystic  beauty.  Small  objects  close  at  hand 
start  up  with  remarkable  rapidity  into  gigantic  mon 
sters.  A  raven,  at  a  short  distance,  looks  like  some 
large  animal,  and  when  the  deception  is  discovered, 
recalls  to  mind  the  monster  birds  described  by  Sinbad 
the  Sailor ;  and  far-off  buttes  mock,  with  their  retreat- 


102  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE; 

ings,  the  approach  of  the  traveller,  who,  thinking  that 
a  few  moments'  ride  will  bring  him  to  a  landmark, 
a  pool  of  fresh  water,  or  some  approaching  stranger, 
travels  onward,  while  the  visions  sink  one  by  one 
behind  the  horizon,  above  which  refraction  has  raised 
them.  Sometimes  a  solitary  antelope,  walking  alone, 
will  be  multiplied  into  a  band  of  twenty,  and  a  small 
herd  of  seven  or  eight  look  like  the  march  of  a  band 
of  Indians,  causing  fears  lest  it  be  pursuing  savages. 
Sometimes  the  artemisia  patches,  rocks,  and  alkaline 
flats,  covered  with  the  incrustation  of  alkali  sparkling 
in  the  sun,  suddenly  seem  to  vibrate  before  the  eyes 
and  transform  themselves  into  lakes  and  gardens  of 
most  bewildering  beauty ;  then,  with  a  misty  vapor, 
pass  away,  leaving  the  barren  plain  in  its  blank  sterility 
as  before — a  desolation  covered  with  artemisia  or  buf 
falo-sage,  and  prickly  pear,  patches  that  add  little 
beauty  to  the  surrounding  desolation. 

Still,  over  the  desert-like  wilderness,  the  antelope 
roams  in  vast  numbers,  and  the  huge  bison  flounders 
in  comparative  security.  Sailing  in  mystic  curves,  the 
American  eagle  surveys  the  plains,  unconscious  of 
danger,  or  swoops  with  fearful  rapidity  upon  the  un 
suspecting  rabbit  or  sage-hen,  and  bears  it  to  his  eyry 
with  a  triumphant  scream. 

About  nine  o'clock  we  descended  to  the  bed  of  a 
creek  or  shallow  river,  whose  waters  had  all  disap 
peared  beneath  the  sand,  or  under  the  influence  of 
evaporation,  as  is  not  uncommon  in  that  country  in 
dry  seasons. 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  103 

A  green  tree  could  be  seen  clown  the  stream,  stand 
ing  like  a  forest-king,  spreading  its  branches  to  the 
weary  traveller  of  the  desolate  hills.  When  we  had 
crossed  this  sandy  creek  and  gained  the  opposite  bluff, 
great  smoky  hills  could  be  seen  to  the  southward, 
looming  up  against  the  morning  sky,  adding  their  wild 
grandeur  to  the  surrounding  scene.  Soon  a  green  val 
ley  of  thirty  miles'  width  spread  out  before  us,  and 
through  it  rolled  a  mighty  river,  whose  windings  amid 
verdant  banks  could  be  marked  from  our  elevation,  and 
the  emerald  spots  of  luxuriant  green  that  dotted  the  sil 
very  crest  were  visible  upon  its  bosom,  while  the  rays 
of  the  July  sun  were  reflected  back  from  its  glassy  sur 
face  in  dazzling  splendor. 

Those  hills  were  a  spur  of  the  Eocky  Mountains, 
and  are  said  to  derive  their  smoky  appearance  from 
the  burning  of  bituminous  coal,  in  which  they  abound. 
The  great  river  was  the  North  Platte,  and,  although 
miles  of  weary  walking  lay  between  us  and  its  cool 
waves,  and,  even  when  gained,  it  might  be  too  much 
swollen  to  ford,  the  prospect  of  relief  from  thirst,  and 
the  consciousness  of  being  thus  far  on  our  homeward 
journey,  brought  renewed  hope.  The  road  lay  over 
great,  sandy  hills,  and  the  scorching  sun  seemed  to 
wither  all  vegetation  under  its  influence. 

Frank's  hat  and  my  bonnet  were  left  behind,  and 
our  heads  were  exposed  to  the  hot  rays  of  the  sun.  I 
had  undertaken  to  make  temporary  caps,  but,  being 
warned  by  Frank  that  white  could  be  seen  at  a  great 
distance,  and  might  lead  to  discovery  just  when  hope 


104       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE  ; 

had  sprung  into  our  hearts,  I  desisted,  thankfully  ac 
cepting  his  suggestion. 

On  ascending  another  eminence,  what  appeared  to 
be  an  Indian  village,  resting  upon  the  opposite  bank 
of  the  river,  presented  itself  in  bold  relief,  and  to  the 
eastward,  at  the  distance  of  a  few  miles,  another  village 
was  located  between  us  and  the  river,  as  if  guarding 
the  blessed  refreshing  liquid. 

It  was  death  to  retrace  our  steps,  and  dangerous  to 
go  forward;  one  moment  in  that  exposed  place  might 
cost  us  our  lives  or  a  recapture.  Our  position  was  on 
the  brink  of  a  precipice,  and  at  its  base  could  be  seen 
a  clear  pool  or  lake  that  had  formed  from  the  super 
abundance  of  the  river,  but  was  beyond  our  reach, 
over  two  hundred  feet  below,  while  its  cool  and  tempt 
ing  freshness  only  increased  the  desire  to  be  at  its  brink. 
There  was  but  one  thought,  which  came  like  a  flash  — 
safety ;  and  a  moment  later  we  were  concealed  from  the 
danger  amid  the  gaping  walls  of  a  canon's  mouth, 
that  opened  immediately  at  our  right,  as  if  to  offer  a 
shelter  that  otherwise  we  could  not  have  found.  It 
was  entered  by  a  gradually  descending  slope  for  a  few 
feet,  and  then  a  narrow  passage  between  two  rocks 
seemed  to  open  for  us  to  pass,  and  down  into  its  cool 
declivity  we  went.  Strong  and  high  the  massive  rocks 
rose  above  us,  and  we  seemed  buried  alive  in  the 
bowels  of  the  earth. 

Nothing  grander  than  this  mighty  canon  did  my 
eyes  ever  rest  upon,  and  feeble  words  can  convey  but 
a  faint  impression  of  the  wondrous  beauty  of  this  noble 


OK,    LIFE   AMOXG    THE    SIOUX.  105 

feat  of  nature.  After  reaching  a  gentle  slope,  we  came 
to  a  steep  descent  of  stones,  resembling  stair-steps, 
without  the  aid  of  which  it  would  have  been  impossi 
ble  to  penetrate  its  depths.  The  greater  space  below, 
when  gained,  resembled  the  cell  of  some  old  prison ; 
and  in  it  we  felt  more  severed  from  the  breathing,  think 
ing  world.  Passing  still  farther  down  this  canon,  for 
it  was  long  and  seemingly  divided  into  rooms  or  apart 
ments,  we  came  to  a  natural  hall,  paved  with  smooth 
rock,  and  overhung  with  arched  walls,  gray  and  rough, 
and  garnished  with  curious  devices.  Beautiful  white 
stones,  of  various  shapes  and  sizes,  decorated  the  place, 
being  disposed  around  in  grotesque  shapes  and  ex 
quisite  harmony  of  order. ' 

Even  weariness,  fear,  and  thirst  did  not  deaden  the 
faculties  beyond  the  power  of  enjoying  this  masterpiece 
of  nature's  cunning  workmanship,  on  which  she  had  lav 
ished  so  much  skilful  tracery,  to  rear  a  palace  for  the 
abode  of  silence,  for  not  a  sound  broke  the  quiet,  whose 
solemn  presence  was  felt,  if  not  seen.  The  way  led 
over  recks,  and  cautiously  we  went  across  places  that 
our  feet  were  the  first  to  press. 

Penetrating  still  farther  into  this  wonderful  museum 
of  the  great  mother's  art,  among  rocky  walls,  whose 
faces  appeared  chiselled  by  the  hand  of  man  into 
images  of  ancient  gods  in  bas-relief,  at  another  turn 
the  scene  changed,  and  we  would  start  to  behold  our 
selves  in  the  midst  of  some  dim  cathedral  aisle,  and 
it  would  have  required  but  a  slight  effort  of  the  imagi 
nation,  in  the  uncertain  light,  to  supply  the  arched 


106  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE  ; 

roof  with  carved  fretwork  and  Gothic  ornaments,  and 
add  figures  of  saints  to  the  shadowy  gloom. 

Every  passage  assumed  a  distinct  character,  equally 
curious,  if  not  more  fantastic,  than  the  one  preceding 
it,  and  each  impressed  its  reality  so  clearly  on  our 
wondering  eyes  that  we  might  almost  have  suspected 
an  approaching  Indian  of  being  a  creature  of  some 
mysterious  life  and  power. 

Resting  where  the  way  seemed  too  perilous  to  pene 
trate,  until  courage  and  accustomed  sight  robbed  it  of 
some  of  its  terrors  —  then  creeping  on  stealthily,  and 
always  urged  forward  by  thirst  and  hope  of  the  goal 
to  be  won  at  the  end  of  the  race,  suddenly  we  came  to 
a  projecting  rock  that  overhung  a  dark  bed  below,  and 
here,  in  the  sombre  light,  we  sat  down,  for  the  obstruc 
tion  seemed  too  great  to  be  surmounted. 

It  was  now  twenty-two  hours  since  we  had  tasted 
water,  and  we  seemed  to  sink  under  the  influence  of 
thirst.  The  way  had  been  over  a  dry,  sandy  waste 
that  was  scorching  under  the  sun.  Now  the  cooling 
shades  of  the  towering  walls  on  either  side  were  as  a 
refreshing  balm,  but  could  not  supply  the  need  of 
water;  and  that  became  the  one  absorbing  thought. 
Water  in  the  river ;  water  in  the  well ;  water  at  the 
fount;  water  in  the  lake;  water  everywhere! 

After  resting  awhile,  a  descending  slope  was  dis 
covered,  and  we  proceeded.  We  soon  came  to  where 
the  floor  was  of  sand,  and  a  great  tree  presented  itself 
in  bold  relief,  but  appeared,  in  its  prison  walls,  as  a 
tree  of  insignificant  growth.  At  this  place  the  sand 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  107 

was  damp,  and  immediately  at  the  right  was  the  mouth 
of  another  mighty  canon,  which,  with  a  hope  of  find 
ing  water,  we  entered,  and  though  this  new  wonder 
presented  fearful  forebodings,  it  also  gave  hope.  We 
hurried  onward,  inspired  with  a  growing  certainty  that 
water  would  be  found,  and  soon  came  to  a  pool  of 
bright,  clear,  cold  water — the  best  of  liquids.  During 
that  night  and  day  it  had  seemed  that  if  once  it  was 
within  our  grasp,  our  thirst  would  be  insatiable  — 
never  tiring  of  the  refreshing  stream ;  but  the  delu 
sion  of  the  thought  was  soon  discovered. 

It  was  more  than  one  hundred  hours  since  we  had 
eaten  food,  yet  we  were  not  conscious  of  a  desire  for  it. 

This  caiion  was  in  great  contrast  with  its  sister  we 
had  just  visited,  every  thing  being  damp.  The  sand 
beneath  our  feet  was  moist ;  great  pools  of  water  stood 
here  and  there,  and  occasionally  a  stream  rippled  along 
and  then  sank  in  the  porous  strata  of  sand,  to  rise 
again  in  pools,  or  to  flow  along  at  the  base  of  the 
mighty  walls  and  mingle  with  drops  that  dripped 
from  their  sides.  Pale  flowers,  that  had  never  been 
kissed  by  a  ray  of  sunshine,  drooped  their  delicate 
heads  among  the  mountain -moss,  to  sip  the  little 
drops  that  fell  in  soft  spray  upon  its  bosom.  Long 
vines  dangled  under  a  load  of  water,  but  had  never 
been  fanned  by  a  passing  breeze ;  a  dewy  moisture  per 
vaded  the  air.  This  canon,  though  not  so  grotesque, 
was  truly  beautiful,  and  in  it  were  marks  of  former 
intrusion. 

A  boot-track  and  a  print  of  a  horse-shoe  were  dis- 


108  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

covered  in  the  sand.  Savages  do  not  wear  boots,  nor 
are  their  horses  shod.  A  hope  —  not  a  delusive  hope 
—  sprang  to  our  breasts.  We  had  previously  heard 
the  tinkling  of  a  bell  and  the  lowing  of  a  cow,  but 
had  supposed  they  belonged  to  the  Indians  of  the 
neighboring  village ;  but  now  it  seemed  a  proof,  in 
connection  with  the  tracks,  that  possibly  civilized  peo 
ple  were  in  the  vicinity.  Hastening  back  to  the  dry 
cafion,  I  ascended  the  side  and  looked  eagerly  for 
any  assurance  of  the  vicinity  of  a  civilized  person. 
Again  the  lowing  of  a  cow,  as  pleasant  music,  broke 
the  silence,  for  it  carried  with  it  hope.  Indians  only 
steal  cattle  for  their  meat.  We  felt  that  we  must  be 
near  the  camp  of  Christian  people. 

Hastening  to  Frank,  I  took  his  hand  and  ascended 
the  opposite  side,  which,  since  the  junction  of  the 
canons,  was  a  huge  embankment  of  sand ;  even  roots 
and  bushes  were  interspersed. 

Freshly  chopped  wood  was  found  upon  the  side. 
There  a  hunter  had  been.  I  left  the  child,  believing 
the  mark  sufficient  to  secure  my  finding  him  again ; 
and  climbing  still  higher,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
valley  we  had  so  long  been  approaching. 

Knowing  our  danger  from  the  savages  that  roam 
the  hills,  every  possible  assurance  that  civilized  people 
were  really  in  the  neighborhood  was  necessary,  lest, 
with  a  delusive  thought,  we  might  rush  into  danger. 

A  cloud  of  dust  arose  beyond  the  river,  and  sailed 
along  as  though  it  was  being  raised  by  a  little  whirl 
wind  from  a  public  highway.  The  village  could  be 


OR;   LIFE   AMONG    THE   SIOUX.  109 

seen,  but  it  was  at  too  great  a  distance  for  the  people 
to  be  recognized  as  Indians. 

The  lowing  of  cows,  the  tinkling  bell,  the  tracks 
in  the  sand,  cut  wood,  the  dust  as  of  a  highway,  all 
rose  up  as  evidences  of  a  vicinity  to  white  people. 
Possibly  a  train  was  encamped  near  the  Indian  village. 
Perhaps  we  were  nearing  the  emigrant  road,  and  much 
nearer  the  fort  than  had  been  supposed.  Calculating 
the  distance  we  had  been  taken  by  the  Indians,  and 
the  way  we  had  come  in  returning,  we  had  not  hoped 
to  strike  a  frequented  road  for  ten  miles  beyond  the 
Platte  River ;  but  now,  the  cheering  evidences  of  our 
vicinity  to  civilized  life  combined,  formed  an  illumin 
ating  light,  such  as  had  not  shone  before  in  our  sad 
dened  minds,  and  just  as  the  last  ray  of  the  glorious 
sunset  died  on  the  tops  of  the  surrounding  hills,  the 
clear,  soft  sound  of  music  floated  through  the  still  air 
and  lingered  upon  the  rocks  to  echo  back  the  enrap 
turing  notes;  and  at  that  moment,  an  eagle,  with 
wide-spread  wings,  sailed  proudly  aloft  into  the  dying 
sunset. 

At  the  sight  of  the  noble  bird  and  the  sound  of  our 
nation's  horn,  danger  seemed  to  fly,  and  I  bounded 
down  the  rocky  steep  to  carry  the  good  tidings  to  my 
son.  He,  too,  had  caught  the  sound,  and,  with  hope 
and  joy  beaming  in  his  eyes,  exclaimed  :  "  The  sol 
diers,  ma !  I  hear  the  bugle  sound  retreat." 

It  was  truly  so;  and,  clasping  my  dear  child  in  my 
arms,  we  rejoiced  together. 

Having  bathed  and  combed  at  the  pool,  no  future 
10 


110 

preparations  were  to  be  made  to  complete  our  restricted 
toilet,  and  we  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  united 
canons  by  a  passage  between  two  precipitous  bluffs  that 
led  several  hundred  feet  downward  to  the  river. 

Leaving  these  strange  monuments  of  nature's  work 
forever,  I  must  say  one  word  more. 

Their  extent  appeared,  in  -my  limited  investigation, 
to  be  terminable;  yet  we  felt  that  we  had  scarcely 
passed  the  threshold  of  the  damp  one,  though  it  might 
end  abruptly  even  when  the  vista  seemed  to  lead  on  to 
new  wonders.  Their  entrance  is  so  insignificant  as  to 
be  overlooked  by  strangers,  and  had  hitherto  escaped 
the  traveller's  attention;  though  a  mountaineer,  whose 
track  we  had  seen,  had,  in  pursuit  of  a  bear,  pene 
trated  a  little  distance,  but,  being  persuaded  that  the 
gloom  was  too  intense,  he  retreated. 

Arriving  on  the  bank  of  the  stream  under  the  cover 
of  night,  we  sought  the  shelter  of  some  bushes,  for 
the  mighty  river  rolled  between  us  and  the  fort.  The 
village  we  had  seen  on  the  north  side  was  some  little 
distance  below  us,  and  we  still  believed  it  to  be  in 
habited  by  savages  who  would  capture  or  murder  us 
immediately  on  discovery.  Caution  had  been  learned 
through  bitter  experience ;  and,  although  there  were 
so  many  evidences  of  our  vicinity  to  a  friendly  settle 
ment,  we  dreaded  lest  a  lurking  savage,  discovering  us 
at  the  threshold  of  friends  —  for  we  felt  that  we  were 
surely  approaching  the  place  of  a  white  man — we 
still  cautiously  avoided  exploring  a  path  that  might 
be  beset  with  dangers. 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  Ill 

As  we  sat  in  this  shelter,  which  proved  to  be  the 
last,  a  most  joyful  and  welcome  sound  greeted  our 
ears  —  one  in  which  there  was  no  mistake  —  our  own 
language,  spoken  by  some  boys  who  passed,  driving 
cattle. 

We  arose  at  the  pleasant  and  encouraging  sound 
and  the  sight  of  the  boys^  and,  believing  that  what  we 
had  supposed  was  an  Indian  village  might  be  an  emi 
grant  train,  walked  slowly  in  that  direction,  and  soon 
saw  a  man  who  was  approaching  with  two  horses, 
and  called  to  him.  He  came  forward,  and  I  inquired 
if  he  was  a  white  emigrant,  when  he  proudly  raised 
his  head  and  said,  "  Well,  I  believe  I  am."  Then  I 
endeavored  to  explain  to  him  why  I  thus  uncere- 
moniousjy  addressed  him,  but  he  interrupted  me  by 
saying,  "Oh,  yes,  I  already  have  heard  of  the  Indians' 
outbreak,  and  that  you  were  carried  away;  but  no  one 
ever  dreamed  of  your  coming  back  by  yourself.  Two 
companies  of  soldiers  have  arrived  at  Deer  Creek,  just 
beyond  the  river,  on  their  way  to  chastise  the  red 
scoundrels.  But,  come  along  with  me,  and  I  will 
take  you  to  the  train,  where  there  are  ladies."  And, 
still  holding  my  hand,  he  drew  us  with  him. 

aAs  you  are  acquainted  with  the  circumstances,  can 
you  tell  me  where  the  men  of  the  train  are?"  I  in 
quired.  "Your  husband,"  he  replied,  "was  wounded, 
but  not  fatally,  and  is  beyond  the  river,  in  the  fort." 
This  was  the  first  intimation  I  had  that  any  of  our 
train  had  been  shot  when  the  Indians  fired ;  and,  in 
hope  that  some  mistake  existed,  I  made  further  in- 


112        THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

quiries;  but  the  kind  man  knew  the  truth,  and  having 
heard  of  a  little  boy  being  carried  away,  and  seeing 
Frank,  knew  it  was  my  husband  that  was  convales 
cent,  and  proceeded  to  explain. 

We  soon  arrived  at  the  place  where  the  women 
were,  and  were  introduced  and  cordially  welcomed. 
Never  before  was  I  so  glad  to  see  ladies.  They 
were,  of  course,  all  strangers  to  me,  but,  notwith 
standing,  they  seemed  as  sisters ;  while  some  laughed, 
others  cried,  each  in  her  way  expressing  joy  at  our 
return.  Their  interest  and  sympathy  were  like  healing 
balm  after  our  dreary  wanderings  among  the  hills.  It 
was  regarded  as  but  little  less  than  a  miracle  that  we 
had  made  our  escape  from  the  savages,  entirely  un 
aided,  and  successfully  found  our  way  back.  Very 
soon  hundreds  of  persons  flocked  to  see  us  and  inquire 
in  what  manner  we  had  effected  an  escape,  and  how 
we  found  our  way  back  to  that  point,  etc.,  etc. 

Many  of  these  good  people  were  Germans,  and,  as 
they  conversed  among  themselves,  expressed  a  very 
great  hatred  to  the  Indians.  I  felt  almost  persuaded 
that  they  were  as  much  imbittered  against  the  savages 
as  myself. 

For  an  hour  this  entertainment  lasted,  and,  though 
I  felt  weary  and  faint,  I  endeavored  to  reply  correctly 
to  all  their  questions,  although  it  seemed  one  unceas 
ing  stream  of  inquiries. 

This  train  had  come  from  Iowa,  and  the  river  being 
very  high,  they  had  been  unable  to  cross  until  they 
arrived  at  that  place,  and  were  awaiting  a  fall  in  the 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  113 

water.  Numerous  small  trains  coming  up,  the  en 
campment  was  increased  to  a  great  size ;  and,  upon  first 
eight,  the  covered  wagons,  appeared  like  an  Indian 
village.  Thus  arose  my  first  impression  that  it  was 
a  yavage  camp.  With  great  kindness  a  sumptuous 
supper  was  prepared,  but,  although  our  fast  had  been 
long,  we  felt  no  desire  for  food,  and  I  declined  to 
accept  anything  but  a  cup  of  tea  and  a  small  piece  of 
bread,  and  permitted  Frank  to  have  only  a  little  milk 
and  rice,  at  the  taste  of  which  his  appetite  returned ; 
but  mine  did  not,  until  tempted  by  delicacies  prepared 
by  kind  ladies  at  the  fort,  on  the  second  day  after  our 
arrival. 

As  the  waters  were  too  high  for  us  to  cross  that 
night, .a  soldier,  by  the  name  of  Sparks,  who  hap 
pened  to  be  there,  kindly  offered  to  cross  the  river 
and  inform  my  husband  of  our  safe  arrival,  when  Mr. 
Kelley  immediately  came  over  to  inquire  the  fate  of 
his  family,  but  I  was  able  to  give  him  no  very  en 
couraging  information. 

The  afflicted  husband  and  father's  emotion,  on  list 
ening  to  what  I  could  tell,  was  a  sight  that  moved 
strong  hearts  —  his  wife,  still  in  captivity,  with  all 
the  horrors  of  uncertainty  surrounding  her,  and  his 
little  daughter  alone  upon  the  hills,  or  carried  away 
by  another  party,  or,  perhaps,  mutilated  and  left  for 
wolves  to  prey  upon.  All  this  seemed  to  press  heavily 
upon  his  mind  and  feelings.  Endurance  struggled 
with  stronger  sentiment;  but  the  great  sorrow  that 
oppressed  his  heart  did  not  prevent  him  from  sympa- 
10*  H 


114       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE  ; 

thizing  with  our  joy ;  and  he  related  the  particulars 
of  the  condition  of  the  wounded,  and  assured  me 
that  my  husband  was  convalescent.  Avowing  his  own 
intention  to  start  the  next  morning  in  search  of  his 
lost  child,  he  returned  to  the  fort  and  the  bedside  of 
the  wounded  men.  In  accordance  with  his  plan,  Mr. 
Kelley  procured  a  squad  of  men,  it  being  unsafe  to 
go  alone,  and  proceeded  in  search  of  the  lost  child. 
It  was  now  six  days  since  she  had  been  left  by  herself. 
The  squad  of  soldiers,  in  their  search,  came  up  to  a 
company  of  emigrants  standing  a  little  back  from  the 
road ;  but,  alas,  too  late !  The  body  of  little  Mary 
had  been  found  pierced  by  three  arrows,  and  she  had 
been  scalped  by  the  ruthless  knife ;  but  whose  guilty 
hands  shed  her  innocent  blood  we  can  never  know, 
since  no  friendly  eye  beheld  her  after  she  was  seen  by 
the  terrified  soldiers  sitting  upon  a  bluff.  When  dis 
covered  by  a  traveller,  her  body  lay  with  its  little 
hands  stretched  out,  as  if  she  had  received,  while 
running,  the  piercing,  deadly  arrow. 

None  but  God  knew  the  agony  of  that  young  heart 
in  its  terrible  extremity,  and  surely  He,  who  numbers 
the  sparrows  and  feeds  the  ravens,  was  not  unmindful 
of  her  in  that  awful  hour,  but  allowed  the  heavenly 
kingdom,  to  which  her  trembling  soul  was  about  to  take 
flight,  to  sweeten,  with  a  glimpse  of  its  beatific  glory,  the 
bitterness  of  death  —  even  as  the  martyr  Stephen,  see 
ing  the  bliss  above,  could  not  be  conscious  of  the  tor 
ture  below. 

To  the  travellers,  who  found  her,  she  was  only  the 


OK,   LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  115 

mutilated  corpse  of  a  murdered  child.  They  could 
not  guess  her  name  or  people,  but  with  humane  feel 
ings  gave  her  a  resting-place  in  the  earth,  and,  with 
the  usual  precaution  in  such  cases,  secured  a  piece  of 
her  dress  by  which  the  body  might  possibly  be  iden 
tified.  When  these  duties  were  over,  and  the  sorrow 
ing  father  had  the  sad  satisfaction  of  smoothing  the 
earth  upon  the  unconscious  breast  that  had  ceased  to 
suffer  or  be  afraid,  and  to  know  that  his  task  was 
done,  there  they  left  her  in  the  wilderness  —  a  little 
grave  all  alone,  far  from  the  happy  home  of  her  child 
hood  and  the  sisters  and  brothers  among  whom  she 
had  played  in  innocent  joy. 

Of  all  strange  and  terrible  fates,  no  one,  who  had 
seen  her  gentle  little  face  in  its  loving  sweetness,  the 
joy  and  comfort  of  her  adopted  parents'  hearts,  would 
ever  have  predicted  such  a  barbarous  one  for  her. 
But  it  was  only  the  passage  from  death  into  life,  from 
darkness  into  daylight,  from  doubt  and  fear  into  love 
and  endless  joy.  Those  little  ones,  whose  spirits 
float  upward  from  their  downy  pillows,  amid  the 
tears  and  prayers  of  broken-hearted  friends,  are  blest 
to  enter  in  at  heaven's  shining  gate,  which  lies  as 
near  little  Mary's  rocky,  blood-stained  pillow  in  the 
desolate  Avaste  as  the  palace  of  a  king ;  and  when  she 
had  once  gained  the  great  and  unspeakable  bliss  of 
heaven,  it  must  have  blotted  out  the  remembrance 
of  the  pain  that  won  it,  and  made  no  price  too  great 
for  such  delight. 


CHAPTER  X. 

RECROSSING  THE  PLATTE  —  MEETING  WITH  MY  HUSBAND  — 
DEATH  OF  LIEUTENANT  BROWN  —  A  REFRACTORY  INDIAN 
WIFE  —  DEATH  OF  CAPTAIN  RYNHEART  —  THE  WHITE 
PRINCESS  —  NARRATIVE  OF  MRS.  MORTON,  MRS.  EWBANKS, 
AND  MISS  ROPER  —  EXECUTION  OF  INDIANS  —  SUDDEN 
ATTACK  —  DEATH  OF  CAPTAIN  FOUTS  —  VARIOUS  INCI 
DENTS. 

IT  was  the  17th  of  July,  and  five  days  since  our 
capture,  that  we  crossed  the  broad  bosom  of  the 
North  Platte,  on  our  way  to  Fort  Deer-Creek.  The 
waters  had  fallen  so  as  to  allow  us  to  go  over  in  a 
wagon,  and,  as  the  ripples  rose  around  the  horses' 
plunging  feet,  it  brought  the  recollection  of  the  time 
we  crossed  compulsorily  under  the  command  of  Indian 
guides.  Then  each  wave  seemed  to  rise  to  shut  out 
hope  of  return,  and  the  wide  waters,  when  we  gained 
the  opposite  side,  lay  like  an  impassable  barrier  be 
tween  us  and  friends. 

Through  our  journey  back,  this  river  had  been  a 
mountain  of  difficulty  to  our  minds;  I  realized  it 
must  be  crossed,  but  how  its  deceitful  quicksands  and 
changing  channel  would  be  overcome  had  cost  much 
contriving  thought.  At  last  I  had  determined  to  wait 
upon  the  bank,  or  secluded  among  the  hills,  until  the 

lie 


THE    CAPTUEE   AND    ESCAPE.  117 

water  should  reach  only  to  my  shoulders,  and  then, 
with  the  child  on  my  arm,  endeavor  to  cross  by  ford 
ing.  The  depth  could  be  ascertained  by  wading  in, 
and  at  each  experiment,  when  the  water  was  too  deep, 
return  and  wait  until  it  appeared  less  formidable,  and 
so  by  patient,  untiring  effort,  finally  reach  the  opposite 
side. 

That  was  my  plan,  but  Heaven  in  mercy  sent  an 
easier  crossing,  among  friends  who,  though  yester 
day  strangers,  were  already  much  interested  in  our 
welfare. 

My  husband  was  prostrated  by  loss  of  blood  and 
the  effects  of  his  wound,  and  the  news  of  our  return 
had  been  so  unexpected  that  he  could  scarcely  realize 
our  safety  until  he  saw  us  by  his  side. 

Though  we  fervently  thanked  God  for  our  deliv 
erance  from  captivity  and  from  the  dangers  through 
which  we  had  passed,  it  was  impossible  to  avoid  de 
pression  when  we  thought  of  our  hapless  situation, 
reduced  to  poverty  in  that  far-distant  and  peculiarly 
barren  country,  and  my  husband  without  health  to 
commence  anew. 

Realizing  our  forlorn  condition,  little  Frank,  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  said,  "Mother,  I  suppose  now  I  shall 
never  be  able  to  get  an  education." 

I  installed  myself  as  my  husband's  nurse,  and  our 
unfortunate  friend,  Mr.  Wakefield,  too,  lay  suffering 
with  wounds  which  afterward  proved  fatal,  though  he 
survived  eight  months. 

Two  weeks  previous  to  our  capture  we  had  caused 


118  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

Frank  to  be  vaccinated,  and  the  pits  were  still  visible 
upon  his  arms  and  neck,  yet  I  had  entirely  forgotten 
the  circumstance ;  but  the  quick  eye  of  the  doctor  de 
tecting  the  traces  of  the  marks,  pronounced  them 
small-pox,  and  ordered  our  tent  to  be  detached  from 
the  fort  to  prevent  contagion.  Believing  that  it  was 
the  bite  of  ants,  which  in  our  travels  seemed  every 
where  present,  I  endeavored  to  persuade  him  to  that 
conclusion,  but  in  vain ;  and  only  the  commandant's 
disregard  of  his  order  prevented  the  wounded  from 
being  moved  to  another  locality. 

My  fears  while  in  the  fort  were  not  entirely  at  rest, 
for  a  number  of  teepas  inhabited  by  squaws  and  In 
dian  children  were  in  the  garrison,  and  it  was  these, 
together  with  the  soldiers'  tents,  I  had  mistaken  for  an 
Indian  village  beyond  the  river,  when  we  were  upon 
the  bluffs. 

The  Indians  were  now  considered  extremely  hostile 
all  over  the  country,  and  no  one  ventured  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  reservation  alone,  as  savages  could  be 
seen  lurking  among  the  hills.  They  had  even  been  so 
bold  as  to  undertake  to  drive  off  the  Government  herd, 
and  the  attacking  of  emigrant  trains  was  now  of  every 
day  occurrence. 

The  morning  after  our  arrival  at  the  fort,  some 
squaws  were  observed  beyond  the  enclosure,  signalling 
as  though  something  was  to  be  communicated.  A 
general  fear  of  the  savages  prevailed,  and  no  one  de 
sired  a  lonely  ramble  from  the  fort;  and  to  prevent 
venturesome  travellers  risking  too  much,  a  military 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  119 

order,  forbidding  trains  from  leaving  the  vicinity 
without  a  certain  number  of  armed  men,  was  issued 
by  the  district  commandant. 

Immediately  after  the  report  of  the  attack  of  the 
train  had  reached  Fort  Deer-Creek,  Colonel  Collins, 
commandant  of  the  military  district,  ordered  two  com 
panies,  under  command  of  Captain  Shoeman  and  Cap 
tain  Marshall,  two  brave  and  daring  gentlemen,  to 
pursue,  and  rescue  the  prisoners,  and  chastise  the  sav 
ages  in  case  of  resistance.  But  the  distance  of  one 
hundred  miles  lay  between  those  two  forts,  and  they 
only  arrived  at  Fort  Deer-Creek,  on  their  way  in  pur 
suit  of  the  offenders,  the  evening  we  returned;  but  as 
there  was  still  one  prisoner  out,  the  second  morning 
they  resumed  their  march  in  pursuit  of  the  marauder?, 
and  after  an  absence  of  three  days  returned,  but  had 
not  been  successful. 

Alas !  misfortune  had  attended  the  expedition  in  the 
loss  of  a  young  and  daring  officer,  Lieutenant  Brown, 
of  the  llth  Ohio  Volunteers,  who,  with  a  small  squad 
of  men,  left  the  main  body  to  prospect  the  neighboring 
hills  in  quest  of  the  enemy.  Coming  suddenly  upon 
a  band  of  warriors  in  their  encampment,  the  lieutenant, 
rather  indiscreetly,  ordered  an  attack ;  but  his  men, 
seeing  the  futility  of  opposing  such  numbers,  fled, 
leaving  the  officer  by  himself.  Becoming  conscious  of 
his  dangerous  situation,  he  feigned  friendship,  address 
ing  them  in  the  usual  way:  "  How  coola?"  But 
they  were  not  thus  to  be  deceived,  and  sent  a  well- 


120  THE 

aimed  arrow  that  penetrated  his  neck,  and  he  fell  from 
his  horse. 

He  was  reported  dead,  and  with  all  the  speed  our 
men  could  command  they  pursued  his  murderers ;  but 
the  fresher  horses  of  the  savages  carried  them  off 
beyond  their  reach,  and  the  soldiers  were  compelled  to 
return  in  disappointment.  Stopping  to  procure  the 
body  of  the  fallen  officer,  it  was  discovered  that  he 
still  lived,  and  as  they  approached  he  murmured, 
"Water!" 

His  murderers  had  divested  him  of  his  clothes. 
He  had  lain  eight  hours  in  the  sun,  with  the  arrow 
between  the  pharynx  and  the  cervical  vertebra,  in  dan 
gerous  proximity  to  the  carotid  artery.  Being  left 
alone,  and  conscious  of  his  situation,  it  is  difficult  to 
depict  the  agony  he  must  have  suffered.  He  was 
removed  to  camp,  where  the  arrow  was  extracted,  and 
he  died.  His  remains  were  taken  to  Fort  Deer-Creek 
for  interment,  and  thence  to  his  friends  in  Ohio. 

The  commandant  of  Fort  Deer-Creek,  Captain  Byn- 
heart,  had  married  an  Indian  woman,  who  resided 
with  him  in  the  fort.  This  tawny  wife  was  not 
beautiful,  nor  was  she  amiable,  judging  from  the 
fearful  outbreaks  of  temper  in  which  she  indulged. 
During  her  paroxysm  of  passion  she  would  come 
bounding  toward  him,  with  a  knife  in  her  hand, 
declaring  she  would  cut  him  into  pieces ;  but  generally 
he  could  succeed  in  coaxing  her  into  a  good  humor. 
If  mild  means  failed  he  would  threaten  to  drive  her 
from  his  lodge  forever,  which  seemed  to  be  harsh 


OR;    LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  121 

treatment  for  a  husband  to  his  wife ;  but,  as  it  was  the 
only  available  means  within  his  power,  and  only  used 
to  quell  her  wrath,  having  sufficient  effect  to  calm  her 
stormy  temper,  he  appeared  justifiable. 

This  unfortunate  officer  was  put  under  arrest  for 
some  minor  offence ;  but  was  temporarily  released,  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  officers.  One  night,  going 
with  a  squad  of  men  to  reconnoitre  for  Indians,  sup 
posed  to  be  hostile  and  lurking  in  the  neighborhood, 
coming  upon  some  lodges  among  the  hills,  he  dis 
mounted,  and  ordered  his  men  to  shoot  the  first  man 
that  came  from  a  lodge.  He  then  entered,  and  dis 
covering  the  occupants  to  be  of  the  friendly  Indians, 
and  they  recognizing  him  as  an  officer  and  the  hus 
band  of  a  daughter  of  their  people,  he  made  a  friendly 
visit,  his  men  remaining  without ;  but  no  sooner  did 
he  leave  the  tent  than  a  bullet  entered  his  heart,  in 
obedience  to  his  last  command. 

His  remains  were  taken  to  Ohio,  to  his  friends. 
His  Indian  wife  grieved  sorely  and  loudly,  cutting 
gashes  in  her  flesh  and  weeping  bitterly ;  as  did  her 
female  friends.  Soon  afterward  she  became  the  mo 
ther  of  a  son,  an  unfortunate  little  boy,  whose  destiny 
was  fixed  for  the  mountains. 

Some  very  kind  and  sympathizing  ladies  of  Fort 
Laramie  believed  it  to  be  the  duty  of  Mrs.  Rynheart, 
the  lawful  wife,  who  was  at  home,  to  send  for  and 
adopt  the  Indian  woman's  child,  through  respect  to 
her  husband. 

Many  white  men  live  among  these  hills,  having 
11 


122        THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

Indian  families.  They  are  chiefly  Canadian  French ; 
but  there  are  some  exceptions  in  favor  of  our  nation. 
Some  of  them  are  adopted  into  the  tribes ;  others  are 
traders  among  them.  One  in  particular,  an  elderly 
gentleman,  called  Major  Twist,  had  left  his  family  in 
New  York  many  years  before.  His  wife  being  dead, 
he  settled  among  the  hills,  and  married  an  Indian 
woman.  In  his  youth  he  had,  it  is  said,  graduated  at 
West  Point  and  received  a  major's  commission ;  but, 
although  a  gentleman  of  refined  manners,  who  had 
been  accustomed  to  a  life  of  luxury,  he  preferred  the 
freedom  of  his  present  associations  to  the  rules  of 
society,  and  cared  for  little  upon  his  table  except  meat. 
He  was  aged,  but  not  infirm  nor  bent  with  years. 
The  sutler  at  Deer  Creek  had  an  Indian  family,  and 
it  is  said  he  offered  to  give  any  white  man  of  respecta 
bility,  who  would  marry  one  of  his  daughters,  a  large 
fortune. 

While  we  stayed  in  this  fort,  the  constant  succession 
of  visitors,  anxious  to  see  a  woman  and  child  that  had 
escaped  from  Indians,  kept  coming  in  on  the  arrival 
of  every  train,  and,  with  nursing  my  wounded  hus 
band,  driving  the  flies  from  our  unfortunate  friend 
Mr.  Wakefield,  and  attending  to  the  wants  of  the 
child,  my  time  was  so  fully  occupied  that  I  could 
scarcely  find  opportunity  to  entertain  so  many,  and 
answer  the  questions  they  asked.  Many  persons  seemed 
to  think,  because  I  had  been  with  the  savages  for  the 
space  of  a  few  hours,  I  understood  much  in  regard  to 
their  characteristics. 


OR;    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  123 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  kind  feeling  in  the  garri 
son,  and,  although  help  was  scarce,  we  received  sym 
pathy  and  good  will — one  kind  young  man,  a  soldier 
of  the  llth  Ohio  Volunteers,  named  James  Lindsay, 
offering  us  the  loan  of  a  hundred  dollars,  which  favor 
was  accepted. 

Dr.  Ziegler,  the  post  surgeon,  was  very  skilful 
and  efficient  in  his  care,  and  my  husband  was  rapidly 
recovering. 

The  soldiers  that  had  been  sent  to  rescue  us,  hav 
ing  been  unsuccessful  in  chastising  the  savages  for 
the  murder  of  their  companion,  were  anxious  to  avail 
themselves  of  another  opportunity,  and  accordingly 
were  sent  against  a  large  party  that  were  encamped 
near  Platte  Bridge,  supposed  to  be  hostile;  but  the 
latter  proving  to  be  friendly,  or  so  represented  by 
their  leader,  who  was  wounded  in  the  affray,  the 
soldiers  returned  to  Deer  Creek,  on  the  27th,  and  the 
following  day  we  set  out  with  them  en  route  for  Fort 
Laramie. 

One  of  the  instances  of  Indian  life  related  to  me  by 
a  mountaineer,  who  had  travelled  extensively  in  the 
western  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  is  as  follows: 
Among  the  Shoshonees,  or  Snakes,  is  a  white  woman 
of  surpassing  beauty.  She  is  held  in  much  esteem 
and  respect,  and  often  consulted  upon  matters  of  im 
portance  to  the  tribe.  She  was  found,  when  quite 
young,  near  the  dead  body  of  her  brother,  who  had 
fallen  in  a  severe  conflict  with  a  grisly  bear  and  her 
two  cubs.  It  appeared  from  what  she  remembered  of 


124  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

the  circumstances,  that  her  father,  with  his  family,  was 
en  route  for  Oregon,  when  they  were  attacked  by  a 
band  of  Utah  Indians,  and  all  destroyed,  except  her 
self  and  brother,  a  youth  of  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  the  attack  taking  place  about  an  hour  before 
day.  While  the  Indians  were  plundering  the  train, 
her  brother,  taking  her  in  his  arms,  sought  shelter  in 
a  cave  near  by.  This  cave  had  long  been  known  as  a 
place  of  terror  to  the  Utahs,  and  tradition  had  envel 
oped  it  in  a  cloud  of  mystery.  It  was  called  the 
"  Cave  of  Ghosts,"  and  the  Indians  carefully  avoided 
its  immediate  vicinity,  thus  making  it  a  place  of  safety 
for  these  refugees,  who  might  have  remained  in  its 
shelter  until  some  emigrants,  or  a  friendly  band  of 
Indians,  should  rescue  them,  had  it  not  been  for  a 
mortal  combat  with  three  grisly  bears,  which  resulted 
in  her  brother's  death,  and  thus  left  her  alone  to  be 
taken  and  adopted  by  the  friendly  Snakes. 

The  legend  of  the  cave  is  known  to  all  the  Indians, 

O  ' 

and  many  travellers,  wrho  have  visited  Salt  Moun 
tain,  in  the  Juab  Valley.  The  cave  is  a  remarkable 
depression  in  the  earth,  at  the  bottom  of  which  is  a 
clear  spring  of  water,  rising  a  few  feet,  disappearing  in 
a  porous  strata,  and  then  flowing  off.  The  Indians  call 
it  "  Pen  Gun."  They  affirm  that  in  this  cave  resides 
a  demoniac  spirit,  whose  form  and  voice  is  that  of  a 
child :  at  the  sun's  decline  it  comes  up  to  the  surface 
of  the  water,  and,  when  any  one  approaches,  it  utters 
the  most  dismal  cries  for  assistance,  at  the  same  time 
making  fearful  contortions  of  suffering.  Should  any 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  125 

persons  approach  closely,  their  lives  would  surely 
pay  the  penalty  of  their  hardihood ;  it  would  seize 
and  convey  them  to  the  lower  regions,  to  a  life  of 
endless  torture.  The  Utahs  firmly  believe  in  the  truth 
of  this  legend  —  hence  its  name,  the  Ghost  Cave. 

It  appears  that  these  orphans  had  remained  undis 
covered  for  several  months  in  the  protecting  shadow 
of  this  retreat,  when  the  unfortunate  circumstance 
took  place,  which  deprived  the  brother  of  life  and 
left  the  little  sister  alone.  Starting  out  one  day  upon 
his  hunting  excursion,  after  bidding  the  little  girl 
take  care  not  to  ramble  out  of  the  thicket,  which 
screened  the  entrance  to  the  cave,  for  fear  of  discovery, 
he  went  cautiously  down  the  cafion,  and  had  not  pro 
ceeded  far,  when  steps  behind  him  arrested  his  atten 
tion.  Turning  to  see  what  it  was,  his  eyes  fell  upon 
a  she-bear  and  her  two  cubs  advancing  rapidly  upon 
him.  Hurriedly  cocking  his  gun,  he  took  deliberate 
aim,  but  missed  fire.  In  another  moment  she  was  upon 
him,  and  tore  him  almost  to  pieces.  Then  the  bear 
left  him,  and  when  he  recovered,  his  sister  was  at  his 
side,  endeavoring  to  stanch  his  flowing  blood.  All 
night  she  sat  by  him,  and  in  the  gray  dawn  of  the 
morning  he  closed  his  eyes  in  death.  The  weeping 
child  watched  by  the  corpse  of  her  brother,  and  en 
deavored  to  keep  at  bay  the  howling  wolves  that  sur 
rounded  them,  attracted  by  the  scent  of  blood.  She 
picked  up  the  gun  and  knife,  and  kept  her  solitary 
watch,  after  loading  the  gun  as  well  as  she  was  able, 
in  the  manner  she  had  often  observed  her  father  and 
11* 


126       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

brother  prepare  their  weapons  for  hunting.  She  only- 
succeeded,  however,  in  getting  down  a  load,  but  was 
unable  to  cock  the  gun  to  place  on  a  cap.  As  she  was 
making  the  effort,  a  sharp  war-whoop  rang  upon  her 
ear,  and  a  tall  Indian  stood  before  her,  with  several  of 
his  companions.  The  little  girl,  knowing  the  fate  re 
served  for  captives,  and  thinking  they  were  the  ones 
that  murdered  her  parents,  seized  the  knife  and  stood 
up  resolutely  in  front  of  the  dead  body.  The  Indian, 
pleased  at  the  heroic  attitude  of  the  child,  reached  out 
his  hand,  and  smiled.  For  a  few  moments  she  looked 
at  him  earnestly,  then  burst  into  tears.  The  Indian 
kindly  took  her  in  his  arms,  and,  placing  her  upon  his 
pony,  bore  her  to  his  people,  where  she  still  remains. 
O-ko-chee  was  on  the  trail  of  some  of  the  Utahs, 
whom  he  had  dispersed  after  taking  many  scalps  and 
and  all  their  camp  equipage,  with  many  ponies.  With 
the  characteristic  superstitious  ideas  of  his  people,  the 
chieftain  regarded  the  child  as  sent  by  the  Great  Spirit 
to  his  lodge.  Under  this  belief  he  loaded  her  with 
favors,  decorated  and  clothed  her  in  costly  furs,  and 
provided  captive  maidens  from  neighboring  tribes  to 
wait  upon  her.  She  is  not  allowed  to  engage  in  menial 
employments,  but  is  considered  almost  sacred.  Al 
though  many  have  sought  her  hand  in  marriage,  and 
rival  lovers  from  friendly  tribes  have  even  crossed 
lances  in  combat  for  her  love,  she  is  still  her  own  mis 
tress.  The  daring  trapper  and  hunter  of  the  Kocky 
Mountains  have  braved  peril  and  obstacles  to  reach  her 
side,  but  in  vain.  The  jealous  chiefs  of  the  band  have 


OB,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  127 

carefully  concealed  her  remarkable  beauty  from  sight 
beyond  the  tribe,  and  neighboring  Indians  accredit 
her  with  the  power  of  assuming  invisibility.  Thus 
this  waif  of  the  battle  and  the  wilderness  remains  a 
mystery  to  all,  and  is  only  known  as  the  Morning 
Star,  or  the  White  Princess  of  the  Shoshonees. 

When  en  route  to  Fort  Laramie,  the  second  after 
noon,  our  encampment  was  in  an  extensive  grove;  and 
while  some  of  our  men  were  rambling  about,  several 
shots  were  fired  at  them.  Supposing  this  an  attack  by 
savages,  they  returned  the  fire,  causing  quite  a  sen 
sation  in  camp.  Fortunately  the  timber  proved  a 
shield,  and  no  one  was  injured.  The  invaders  were 
travellers  belonging  to  an  emigrant  train  that  was 
corralled  just  beyond  the  woods.  This  company  was 
en  route  for  the  Pacific  coast,  and  with  it  were  some 
aged  persons  and  many  children. 

As  we  travelled,  the  following  day,  we  saw  the  body 
of  a  man  who  had  been  killed  by  Indians  and  buried 
by  kind  travellers,  but  now,  exhumed  by  wolves,  it 
lay  by  the  roadside. 

We  received,  through  the  kindness  of  Colonel  Col 
lins,  the  commander,  the  use  of  a  house,  and,  being 
successful  in  borrowing  some  more  money,  we  con 
cluded  to  engage  in  the  business  of  photography,  and. 
accordingly  sent  to  Leavenworth  for  the  materials 
necessary.  Savage  depredations  had,  however,  as 
sumed  such  threatening  proportions,  that  stage-travel 
was  considered  unsafe,  and  many  obstacles  lay  in  the 
way  of  our  procuring  the  appliances  of  business  as 


128       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

readily  as  we  desired.  Nearly  two  months  elapsed 
before  we  received  the  camera,  with  the  appurtenances, 
to  commence  business. 

During  our  stay  of  five  years  in  the  far  West,  we 
have  had  convenient  opportunity  to  observe  border 
life  and  Indian  character,  the  result  of  some  of  which 
is  given  in  these  connections ;  also  a  brief  account  of 
the  experience  of  several  women  and  children  who 
became  victims  of  Indian  cruelties,  which,  I  trust, 
will  not  be  without  interest  to  the  reader. 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  noble  traits  of  the  In 
dian  character,  but,  notwithstanding,  observation  has 
confirmed  our  opinion  that  there  has  been  a  mistake 
somewhere.  Our  respect  for  "  Lo  the  poor  Indian " 
has  been  fearfully  diminished,  and  we  begin  to  con 
clude  that  familiarity  does  breed  contempt,  especially 
for  the  forest-king ;  and,  if  the  sympathizing  friends 
of  the  red  man  were  subjected  to  a  journey  across  the 
plains,  where  a  visit  from  their  savage  neighbors 
would  result  in  poverty  and  a  narrow  escape  from 
death,  or  in  a  life  of  bondage,  they  would  probably 
modify  their  flattering  opinion;  and  when  subse 
quent  observation  would  reveal  gross  indolence,  un- 
cleanliness,  ignorance,  deception,  and  cruelty,  they 
would  inevitably  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that,  instead 
of  the  Indian  being  a  noble  lord,  holding  a  patent  of 
nobility  from'  heaven,  he,  in  truth,  too  often  embodies 
the  most  repulsive,  lazy,  and  unprincipled  habits  and 
attributes. 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  129 

On  the  8th  of  August,  a  train  of  twelve  wagons  was 
attacked  on  the  emigrant  road  at  Plum  Creek,  thirty 
miles  west  of  Fort  Kearney.  A  Mr.  Morton,  of  Den 
ver,  had  been  to  Sidney,  in  Clinton  County,  Iowa, 
where  his  wife  was  visiting,  while  he  fitted  himself 
out  as  a  freighter  for  the  plains.  In  connection  with 
his  brother-in-law  and  ten  others,  he  set  out  upon  his 
freighting  expedition,  taking  with  them  Mrs.  Morton 
and  a,  little  son  of  one  of  the  men  from  Council  Bluffs. 
When  attacked,  the  train  was  completely  taken  by 
surprise,  thus  rendering  defence  useless.  All  the  men 
were  killed,  and  the  woman  and  boy  were  carried 
away.  The  news  of  the  massacre  soon  reached  Fort 
Kearney,  and  a  squad  of  soldiers  were  sent  out  to  bury 
the  dead,  to  rescue  the  prisoners,  and  also  to  bring  the 
offenders  to  justice.  This  expedition  failed  of  success, 
though  the  soldiers  encamped  the  first  night  in  sight 
of  the  Indians'  camp.  The  savages  had  procured 
from  the  train  several  cases  of  liquors,  in  which  they 
indulged  freely,  with  the  exception  of  two,  who 
remained  sober  to  guard  the  prisoners. 

In  their  intoxicated  condition  their  capture  might 
easily  have  been  effected,  but  the  pursuing  officer,  not 
understanding  their  exposed  situation,  deemed  it  pru 
dent  to  be  cautious. 

When  the  Indians  set  out  from  the  place  of  slaugh 
ter,  Mrs.  Morton  was  placed  upon  a  horse  of  vicious 
disposition,  and  not  being  able  to  control  the  animal, 
which  seemed  to  delight  in  frequent  plunges,  she  was 
thrown  violently  to  the  ground,  much  to  the  amuse- 

I 


130 

menfc  of  the  Indians,  while,  for  the  offence  of  permit 
ting  herself  to  be  thus  unceremoniously  dismounted, 
she  was  violently  kicked  by  a  chief. 

The  fall  and  abuse,  together  with  grief,  brought  on 
an  illness  which  caused  her  to  be  unable  to  ride  that 
unruly  animal.  The  chief  exchanged  her  to  two  war 
riors  for  two  horses.  They  were  brothers  —  the  two 
that  have  been  mentioned  as  being  the  only  sober  ones 
in  the  first  encampment.  They  took  care  of  her,  and 
bore  her  to  their  parents  —  an  aged  couple,  living  in 
a  teepa  by  themselves.  Their  youngest  daughter  had 
died  a  few  months  before.  Mrs.  Morton  was  kindly 
received  as  an  adopted  child,  being  allowed  to  remain 
in  the  teepa  with  these  old  people,  receiving  the  kind 
est  treatment,  and  not  being  compelled  to  perform  any 
hard  labor.  The  aged  chieftain  seemed  to  pity  her, 
and  one  day  assured  her  that  when  he  and  his  wife 
were  dead  she  should  be  sent  home  to  her  own  people. 
This  was  not  as  satisfactory,  however,  as  she  desired, 
and  soon  afterward  she  solicited  a  more  favorable 
assurance,  when  he  told  her  he  would  some  day  sell 
her  himself  for  sugar  and  coffee.  Thus  relieved  from 
toil  and  at  rest  in  mind,  her  situation  was  compara 
tively  comfortable. 

These  Indians,  as  do  others,  in  war  move  about  con 
stantly,  their  place  being  here  to-day,  and  to-morrow 
far  distant.  When  Mrs.  Morton  was  first  taken  with 
them,  they  had  with  the  war-party  a  pretty  little  girl 
of  about  seven  years,  whom  they  had  stolen  from  her 
home  or  from  some  emigrant  train.  She  was  an 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  131 

intelligent  little  creature,  but,  alas !  could  not  under 
stand  that  her  only  safety  lay  in  obedience.  The  child 
cried  continuously  for  her  mother,  frequently  declaring 
she  knew  that  the  Indians  intended  to  kill  her.  The 
ravages  admired  the  little  girl,  and  evidently  intended 
to  take  her  to  their  village ;  but  at  length,  weary  of 
her  continual  fretting,  a  council  was  held  to  decide 
her  fate.  It  was  decided  that  she  was  unprofitable, 
and,  at  the  close  of  the  council,  the  child  was  placed 
a  little  apart  from  the  others. 

"  I  believe  they  are  going  to  kill  me,"  she  cried,  as 
she  held  her  little,  trembling  hands  imploringly  toward 
her  companion  in  bondage.  "  I  always  feared  they 
would  kill  me,  and  I  would  never  see  my  dear 
mamma ! "  At  this  instant  a  deadly  arrow  pierced  her 
heart,  and  she  lay  dead. 

The  savages  evidently  were  sorry  for  what  they  had 
done,  though  conceiving  it  their  duty,  and  laid  her  to 
rest  with  all  the  honors  due  to  a  beloved  one  of  their 
own  tribe. 

The  little  boy  that  had  been  captured  with  Mrs. 
Morton,  but  nine  years  old,  felt  a  strong  desire  to 
escape  from  bondage,  and  confided  his  plans  to  Mrs. 
Morton,  telling  her  also  his  intentions  for  future  pur 
suit. 

"  If,"  said  he,  "  I  can  escape,  I  will  return  to  my 
mother,  who,  now  that  father  is  dead,  needs  the  assist 
ance  of  her  oldest  son  ;  but  if  she  casts  any  reproaches 
upon  me  for  bondage  under  the  Indians  or  for  my 
father's  death,  I  will  leave  her  forever." 


132  THE   CAPTURE   AND  ESCAPE  ; 

This  child  was  one  of  the  ransomed  little  captives 
who  died  in  Denver  City. 

In  the  winter  of  1864,  while  yet  at  Fort  Laramie, 
I  became  aware,  through  acquaintance  with  some 
friendly  Indians,  of  the  presence  of  a  white  woman 
in  a  village  fifty  miles  north  of  Platte  Bridge,  and 
communicated  the  fact  to  the  commandant,  who  made 
other  inquiries,  and  finally  offered  a  ransom  for  her, 
when  a  Mr.  Reshaw,  an  old  and  weal  thy  mountaineer, 
sent  his  son,  a  half-breed  Indian,  to  pay  their  price, 
and  bring  the  woman  to  his  house.  This  fellow,  un 
fortunately,  rendering  himself  obnoxious  to  the  lady, 
she  communicated  the  fact  to  the  aged  chieftain,  and 
begged  to  be  allowed  another  escort. 

The  old  man  was  astonished  and  angry,  and  imme 
diately  commanded  that  the  "white  man's  son"  be 
brought  before  him ;  then,  with  a  contemptuous  ex 
pression,  the  old  man  ordered  him  to  take  his  presents 
of  sugar,  coifee,  blankets,  horses,  etc.,  and  to  leave  the 
village,  "  For,"  said  he,  "  I  will  not  let  the  white 
woman  go  with  you.  A  man  of  honor  shall  come  for 
her,  or  I  will  wait  until  the  snows  have  left  the 
ground,  and  then  carry  her  to  the  fort  myself."  This 
decision  was  final,  and  the  mountaineer's  son  was 
obliged  to  return  without  accomplishing  his  mission. 
A  few  weeks  after,  another  son  of  a  mountaineer 
went,  and,  after  paying  seventeen  hundred  dollars, 
bore  her  away  to  Fort  Laramie,  where  she  was  hos 
pitably  entertained  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Bullock. 
On  the  way  from  Fort  Casper  to  Laramie,  Mrs.  Mor- 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  133 

ton  saw,  at  Fort  Deer-Creek,  an  Indian  called  Black 
Crow,  who  had  been  one  of  the  band  that  had  mur 
dered  her  husband  and  the  other  men  belonging  to 
that  train,  also  abducting  her.  This  fact  she  commu 
nicated  to  the  Provost  Marshal,  Lieutenant  Triggs, 
who  immediately  sent  for  the  offender.  He  was  taken 
at  Fort  Deer-Creek,  where  he  had  established  him 
self  and  his  family  for  a  winter's  support,  and  brought 
to  Fort  Laramie,  where  he  was  tried,  condemned,  and 
executed  with  the  two  other  Indians  before  men^ned 
—  Two-Face  and  Black  Bear.  The  9th  of  August, 
1864,  Black  Bear  and  Two-Face,  with  a  party  of 
their  men,  made  a  raid  upon  a  settlement  on  Blue 
River,  east  of  Fort  Kearney,  killing  several  men,  and 
abducting  two  women  and  some  children. 

A  Mrs.  Ewbanks  and  Miss  Roper  were  the  unfor 
tunate  ladies  that  were  carried  away.  They  were  re 
turning  from  a  neighbor's  house,  and  discovered  the 
Indians  in  time  to  conceal  themselves  among  the  tall 
grass,  where  they  might  have  escaped  discovery  if  it 
had  not  been  for  the  sobs  of  Mrs.  Ewbanks  and  the 
cries  of  her  infant. 

They  wrere  taken  to  an  Indian  village,  about  a  hun 
dred  miles  southeast  of  Denver  City,  and  there  they 
met  Mrs.  Morton  —  being  permitted  to  remain  to 
gether  for  six  weeks ;  but  fear  of  the  wrath  of  the 
savages,  together  with  the  uncertainty  of  finding  a 
settlement,  discouraged  them  from  any  attempt  to 
escape.  In  the  following  autumn,  Miss  Roper  and 
three  children  were  ransomed  at  a  fort  south  of  Den- 

12 


134  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

ver  City  by  the  military  authorities.  The  four  cap 
tives  being  expected  at  the  fort,  the  commandant  went 
out  to  meet  them,  when  a  dear  little  girl  of  two  years, 
who  was  tied  upon  the  back  of  a  squaw,  as  if  con 
scious  of  her  near  release,  and  anxious  to  be  restored 
to  the  loving  care  of  her  own  people,  stretched  out 
her  little  hands  imploringly,  which  sight  touched  the 
hearts  of  all  who  witnessed  the  scene,  recalling  to 
them  tender  memories  of  loved  ones  at  home,  while 
tearjj^rose  unbidden  to  many  eyes. 

Mrs.  Ewbanks,  her  infant,  and  Mrs.  Morton  were 
soon  afterward  carried  -beyond  the  Platte  River,  and 
separated.  Mrs.  Ewbanks,  with  her  child,  remained 
with  the  Indians  until  April,  1865,  when,  by  a  strata 
gem  of  the  commandant,  she  was  brought  to  Fort  Lar- 
amie  by  Two-Face  and  Black  Bear.  These  Indians, 
thinking  to  increase  their  fortunes,  purchased  Mrs. 
Ewbanks  and  her  child  of  another  chief,  who  held 
her  for  a  slave.  They  soon  afterward  set  out  en  route 
for  Fort  Laramie,  and,  when  they  arrived  within  a 
few  miles  of  the  fort,  the  prisoners  were  left  with  a 
small  company,  while  Two-Face  preceded  them  to 
arrange  the  terms  of  sale.  The  commander  readily 
agreed  to  the  price  they  asked,  which  was  one  thousand 
dollars,  and,  on  the  subsequent  day,  Mrs.  Ewbanks 
and  her  babe  were  brought  in. 

They  crossed  the  Platte  River  five  miles  below  the 
fort,  near  Beauvais*  ranch,  and  in  the  passage  of  this 
stream  the  prisoners  suffered  intensely.  The  child 
was  bound  upon  the  mother's  back,  and  she  secured  to 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  135 

a  log,  to  which  the  end  of  a  long  rope  was  fastened ; 
the  other  end  of  the  rope  was  attached  to  the  chief 
tain's  saddle,  and  he,  passing  over,  pulled  the  log  of 
wood  along  with  the  prisoners.  The  chief  passed  over 
readily,  without  discomfort ;  but  the  mother  and  child 
were  almost  frozen  when  they  reached  the  opposite 
bank,  as  the  water  was  very  cold,  being  covered  with 
floating  ice,  and  the  sufferers  only  having  one  gar 
ment  in  this  inclement  season. 

At  the  ranch  they  were  dressed,  and  soon  the  chief 
tains  proceeded  with  them  to  the  fort,  conducting 
them  to  the  commander,  who,  instead  of  paying  the 
price  that  had  been  promised,  seized  the  chiefs,  and 
caused  them  to  be  confined  in  the  guard-house  to  await 
a  trial.  Being  found  guilty  of  murder,  they  were 
condemned  and  executed,  as  above  stated,  together 
with  Black  Crow. 

Before  the  execution,  Black  Bear  sent  a  few  dollars 
in  money  to  Mrs.  Ewbanks,  with  the  message  that  he 
had  no  further  use  for  it,  and  it  might  be  made  useful 
to  her  and  her  child. 

Mrs.  Ewbanks  remained  at  Fort  Laramie  for  several 
weeks,  until  a  company  of  soldiers,  commanded  by 
Captain  Fouts,  of  the  Iowa  Volunteers,  went  down 
the  country.  Here  Mrs.  Ewbanks  narrowly  escaped 
death  by  the  Indians.  A  band  of  friendly  red  men, 
who  had  been  living  near  Fort  Laramie,  were  being 
taken  to  Fort  Kearney,  it  being  regarded  as  a  more 
suitable  place  for  them.  At  noon,  on  the  first  day's 
march,  the  Indians  became  suspicious  that  some 


136  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE; 

treachery  was  intended,  and  that  they  were  being 
decoyed  to  their  destruction.  This  mistake  may  have 
arisen  from  some  indiscretion  on  the  part  of  some  of 
the  soldiers,  who  amused  themselves  by  throwing  the 
papooses  into  the  river,  and  watching  their  dexterity 
in  swimming  out.  Nothing  was  said  by  the  swarthy 
fathers  and  brothers,  but  their  looks  toward  each 
other  showed  plainly  that  their  minds  were  not  on 
thoughts  of  peace.  Toward  evening,  they  affected  a 
desire  to  hunt,  and  begged  the  captain  for  some  powder, 
which  he  generously  and  unsuspectingly  gave  them. 
This  alarmed  some  of  the  soldiers,  who  requested 
that  a  supply  of  ammunition  be  given  them,  but  were 
refused.  Soon  after,  the  Indians  went  out  to  shoot 
birds,  and  on  their  return  said  that  one  of  their  young 
men  had  been  bitten  by  a  snake.  An  old  squaw  came 
to  Mrs.  Ewbanks,  begging  that  she  would  go  with  her 
to  the  sick  man,  and  endeavor  to  relieve  his  suffer 
ings.  Mrs.  Ewbanks,  not  suspecting  any  treachery, 
immediately  arose  to  accompany  her,  but  being  cau 
tioned  by  Mrs.  Touts  and  others,  desisted,  and,  as  the 
Indian  recovered,  no  more  notice  was  taken  of  the  cir 
cumstance. 

When  they  were  ready  to  resume  the  journey,  the 
Indians,  with  one  simultaneous  shout,  fell  upon  the 
soldiers,  who,  being  without  ammunition,  were  unable 
successfully  to  resist,  and  several  were  killed.  The 
savages,  having  succeeded  in  spreading  consternation 
and  death,  fled  beyond  the  Platte  River.  One  Indian, 
however,  was  chained  in  a  wagon,  having  been  de- 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  137 

tained  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Laramie.  This  Indian  fell 
a  victim  to  the  wrath  of  the  soldiers,  who  took  him 
from  the  wagon  and  shot  him.  On  perceiving  inti 
mations  that  they  would  destroy  him,  he  turned  a  look 
of  defiance  and  a  scornful  smile  upon  his  white  captors. 
When  he  lay  dead,  a  mountaineer,  who  had  witnessed 
the  whole  proceedings,  and  who  was  a  friend  to  the 
Indians,  sprang  upon  the  lifeless  form,  and  with  one 
stroke  of  a  knife  severed  the  scalp,  offering  it  to  a  sol 
dier.  Next  he  cut  off  an  arm,  and  so  continued  to 
mutilate  the  body  till  the  pieces  were  all  distributed 
among  the  lookers-on,  all  the  while  giving  way  to 
vituperation  against  the  soldiers.  Captain  Fouts,  the 
officer  who  commanded  the  execution,  had  been  one 
of  the  first  to  fall.  A  reason  given  by  some  for  this 
unexpected  outbreak  was  a  feeling  of  ill-will  for  this 
officer.  Captain  Fouts  had  been  a  Methodist  clergy 
man  for  twenty-five  years  before  entering  the  army. 
He  left  a  wife  and  several  children,  who  witnessed  his 
untimely  fate. 

In  the  summer  of  1864,  which  witnessed  so  many 
bloody  scenes  in  the  West,  there  lived  on  the  emi 
grant  road,  fifty  miles  east  of  Denver  City,  a  Mr. 
Morrison  and  his  family,  who  were  startled  by  the 
sudden  appearance  of  Indians  at  their  door.  When 
all  hope  of  saving  the  women  and  children  was  gone, 
Mr.  Morrison  endeavored  to  save  himself  by  swim 
ming  the  Platte  River,  but  was  shot  while  in  the 
water,  and  his  lifeless  body  floated  down  with  the 
current.  His  little  boy,  an  adopted  child,  was  never 
12* 


138  THE   CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

heard  of  again.  Possibly  he  now  roams  the  hills 
amid  the  surroundings  of  savage  life. 

Mrs.  Morrison  and  her  infant,  a  child  of  one  year, 
were  carried  away.  The  child  died  from  injuries  re 
ceived  from  the  stamping  feet  of  a  chief,  who  became 
angry  at  the  disinclination  of  the  little  one  to  play 
with  him  when  he  insisted  on  being  amused ;  but  the 
mother  was  ransomed  after  a  year's  servitude  with  the 
Sioux. 

Many  white  women  were  seen  among  these  Indians. 
The  following  narrative  reveals  the  history  of  one  who 
was  the  wife  of  Black  Bear,  and  possibly  the  Indian 
of  that  name  that  was  executed  at  Fort  Laramie. 

In  the  year  1852,  an  emigrant  train  en  route  for 
California  had  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
crossing  of  the  North  Platte,  and,  the  cholera  break 
ing  out  among  the  travellers,  one  after  another  was 
seized  with  this  epidemic,  until  all,  except  one  little 
girl,  died.  Black  Bear,  in  hunting,  came  to  the 
wagons  —  now  transformed  into  a  lazaretto  —  and  re 
ceived  a  letter  from  the  hand  of  the  dying  father,  with 
prayerful  injunctions  to  carry  the  dear  little  creature 
to  his  home  in  the  East,  where  he  would  be  rewarded 
by  the  child's  friends,  in  addition  to  the  heavy  purse 
he  then  gave  him.  Black  Bear  took  the  little  girl, 
and  the  money,  and  everything  left  of  the  train,  to  his 
home  among  the  hills,  and,  as  his  views  did  not  co 
incide  with  the  directions  of  the  dying  father,  al 
lowed  the  girl  to  run  about  like  a  little  savage,  which 
she  soon  became,  forgetting  her  name,  language,  and 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  139 

family,  but  knew  she  was  white.  This  knowledge  she 
attributed  to  have  discovered  in  the  brook,  as  she  sat 
with  her  red  companions  and  their  images  were  re 
flected;  but  her  protector  still  retained  the  letter  which 
explained  the  facts.  Arriving  at  a  marriageable  age, 
Black  Bear  took  her  for  his  wife,  and  when  seen  in 
the  village  she  had  one  child,  a  little  Indian  boy,  and 
was,  except  in  blonde  complexion,  an  Indian  squaw, 
submitting  to  her  lot  and  its  savage  surroundings. 

A  little  boy  of  fourteen  years,  whose  name  proved 
to  be  Charles  Sylvester,  from  Quincy,  Illinois,  had 
been  stolen,  when  but  seven  years  old,  from  his  parents, 
who  were  at  that  time  in  Humboldt  Valley,  Utah  Ter 
ritory.  The  knowledge  that  he  was  not  an  Indian,  but 
a  white  child,  never  left  him,  though  he  had  forgotten 
his  people,  language,  and  even  his  own  name.  He  had 
become  so  domesticated  in  the  habits  of  the  Indians 
that  no  fears  of  losing  him  ever  seemed  to  occur  to 
them,  and  he  was  allowed  full  liberty.  He  had  been 
with  these  Indians  seven  years,  when  he  escaped  and 
came  to  a  military  station,  where  he  had  some  difficulty 
in  convincing  the  officer  that  he  was  not  an  Indian 
boy.  Eventually,  however,  he  succeeded  in  making 
his  story  intelligible,  and  was  sent  to  St.  Louis,  where 
he  was  advertised,  and,  it  is  said,  his  portrait  was 
widely  circulated.  A  gentleman  from  Quincy,  Illinois, 
furnished  satisfactory  proof  that  the  boy  was  his 
nephew,  and  was  allowed  to  take  him  home.  Little 
Charles  proved  to  be  very  bright,  and  in  a  few  months 
had  acquired  quite  a  knowledge  of  the  English  Ian- 


140  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE. 

guage,  learning  also  to  read.  His  love  for  his  own 
people,  however,  was  not  strong  enough  to  draw  his 
affections  from  the  habits  of  his  life,  and  the  restraints 
of  his  city  home  were  irksome  to  him.  Having  a 
hasty  temper,  he  became  offended  at  some  remark  made 
by  his  uncle,  and  immediately  started. to  join  the  In 
dians,  among  whom  he  still  remains,  acting  as  a  trader 
and  interpreter,  at  North  Platte  City,  Nebraska,  on 
the  Union  Pacific  Railroad.  There  the  noted  chief, 
Spotted  Tail,  held  his  band,  and,  though  considered 
peaceful,  was  in  communication  with  the  hostile  tribes. 
Near  Spotted  Tail's  rendezvous  two  little  boys 
were  riding  together  on  one  horse,  when  they  were 
pierced  by  an  arrow  which  entered  both,  pinning  them 
together  as  they  sat  in  the  saddle.  In  this  condition 
the  little  fellows  rode  home,  where  the  weapon  was 
extracted,  and,  strange  to  say,  they  recovered.  Near 
the  same  place,  three  ladies  were  captured  and  carried 
off:  two  of  them  were  young  girls,  named  Kennedy ; 
the  other  a  Norwegian.  Three  months  after  their  ab 
duction  they  were  ransomed  and  brought  to  North 
Platte  City. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

NARRATIVE  OF  JAMES  P.  KIMBALL  AND  FAMILY—  ELIZABETH 
BLACKWELL  —  MORMON  EXPERIENCE  —  INDIAN  KINDNESS 
— DESTRUCTION  OF  MR.  FLETCHER  AND  FAMILY — ABDUC 
TION  OF  MISS  FLETCHER  —  NARRATIVE  OF  MR.  JONES  AND 
FAMILY — THE  MINNESOTA  CAPTIVES  —  HERMIT  OF  THE 
GILA. 

IN  the  spring  of  1848,  a  pleasant  party,  with  highly- 
wrought  visions  of  the  then  newly-discovered  gold- 
fields  of  California,  left  East  Medway,  Massachusetts, 
for  an  overland  journey  across  the  plains.  Among  the 
party  was  James  P.  Kimball,  then  only  nineteen  years 
of  age,  and  just  married  to  Jane  McNiel,  half-sister  of 
the  famous  Kit  Carson.  The  father  and  mother  of  the 
bride  accompanied  them.  Everything  prospered,  and 
all  went  merry  as  a  marriage-bell,  the  company  having 
been  increased  to  sixty-three  in  number,  when  they 
set  out  on  their  overland  journey.  They  reached  the 
foot  of  Chilicothe  Mountain,  June  15,  1848,  having 
crossed  the  plains  of  Utah.  There  they  were  suddenly 
attacked  by  a  war-party  of  the  Snakes  and  Shoshonees, 
and  the  entire  company  captured  or  killed.  Kimball 
was  successful  in  saving  his  own  life,  and  that  of  his 
wife,  by  more  than  once  successfully  running  the 
gauntlet  for  both.  The  Indians,  forming  themselves 

141 


142       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

into  two  lines,  gave  him  the  chance  of  running  be 
tween  them,  promising  that,  if  he  succeeded  in  gaining 
the  other  end  of  the  line,  escaping  kicks,  the  deadly 
thrust  of  knives,  and  the  blows  of  tomahawks,  twice — • 
once  for  himself,  once  for  his  wjfe —  they  would  spare 
him,  and  take  him  into  their  favor,  together  with  his 
wife,  adopting  them  into  the  tribe. 

His  father  and  mother-in-law,  however,  fell  vic 
tims  to  their  fiendish  customs,  and  were  burned  at  the 
stake.  When  the  Indians  had  satisfied  their  cruel 
barbarity,  they  took  their  captives,  and  hurried  away 
to  the  Columbia  River,  in  Washington  Territory,  the 
headquarters  of  the  tribe,  where  young  Kimball  was 
soon  exalted  into  a  distinguished  personage,  becoming 
the  second  chief  in  the  tribe.  After  several  months, 
they  made  preparations  for  another  expedition,  and 
Kimball  and  his  wife  accompanied  them.  Starting 
down  the  Columbia,  they  encountered  the  Enagos, 
suffering  great  loss  and  signal  defeat.  Among  many 
captured  was  the  wife  of  Kimball,  who  was  carried 
away,  and  remained  a  prisoner  and  slave  for  two 
years  and  a  half,  when  another  war  terminated  in 
the  defeat  of  the  Enagos  and  the  restoration  of  Mrs. 
Kimball  to  her  husband.  The  Snakes  and  Shoshonees 
acted  as  one  tribe,  although  with  different  head  men 
or  chiefs. 

For  the  remaining  fifteen  years  of  their  captivity, 
the  Kimballs  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  tribe,  wan 
dering  here  and  there  over  a  vast  region  of  country  — 
at  some  seasons  well  supplied  with  game,  at  other 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  143 

times,  often  compelled  to  subsist  upon  insects,  roots, 
and  herbs. 

One  very  hot  day  a  dark  cloud  suddenly  seemed  to 
pass  before  the  sun  and  threaten  a  great  storm.  The 
wind  rose  and  the  cloud  became  still  darker,  until  the 
light  of  the  sun  was  almost  hidden.  A  few  drops 
sprinkled  the  earth  like  falling  snow-flakes,  and  then, 
in  a  heavy,  blinding,  and  apparently  inexhaustible 
shower,  fell  a  countless  swarm  of  grasshoppers,  cover 
ing  the  ground  and  almost  darkening  the  air  in  their 
descent.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  convey  an  idea  of 
their  extent.  They  seemed  to  rival  Pharaoh's  locusts 
in  number,  and  would,  no  doubt,  have  done  damage 
to  the  vegetation  of  the  savages,  had  not  the  insects 
themselves  fallen  victims  to  the  keen  appetites  of  the 
red  men.  At  such  times  there  is  a  general  jubilee  in 
collecting  these  insects.  For  this  purpose  various 
methods  are  resorted  to :  a  very  common  one  is  to 
dig  large  holes  in  the  ground;  these  are  filled  with 
weeds,  grass,  and  other  combustible  material,  which 
is  lighted ;  into  these  apertures  the  grasshoppers  are 
driven  by  energetic  juveniles ;  then  the  fires  are  re 
moved,  when  the  heat  of  the  ground  bakes  them.  All 
join  in  at  suoh  an  event  with  the  greatest  avidity,  and 
what  is  considered  a  scourge  in  civilization,  is  to  the 
Indian  a  blessing.  The  savages  save  as  many  as  pos 
sible  in  the  time  of  their  stay,  and  as  that  is  very 
uncertain,  it  is  consequently  a  busy  time. 

During  the  entire  period,  the  Kimballs  kept  an 
accurate  account  of  the  years,  by  means  of  the  passing 


14:4  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE  ; 

of  the  seasons.  The  reputation  of  Mr.  Kimball  waxed 
greater,  until  he  became  a  medical  man  of  the  tribe. 
Finally,  in  one  of  their  excursions  toward  the  frontier, 
they  joined  in  an  attack  near, a  fort,  and,  during  the 
progress  of  the  fight,  Mr.  Kimball  gave  some  soldiers 
to  understand  that  he  was  a  white  man,  desiring  to 
escape  from  bondage.  He  was  soon  recaptured  by 
Lieutenant  Wyman,  of  the  18th  United  States  In 
fantry.  Before  leaving  the  Indians,  Mr.  Kimball 
went  to  his  wife's  tent,  informed  her  of  his  prospects, 
and  hastened  with  her  to  the  pickets,  where  they  were 
kindly  welcomed.  They  received  attention  from  Col 
onel  Carrington,  commanding  .at  Fort  Kearny,  Ne 
braska,  who  helped  them  on  their  way  to  their  old 
home  in  the  East.  They  left  behind  two  daughters, 
\vho  were  married  to  chiefs  —  Peter  Folsome  and 
John  Hawkeye,  who  are  now  in  the  Sweetwater  gold 
regions. 

After  arriving  at  Elmira,  New  York,  Mr.  Kimball 
was  fortunate  in  ascertaining  that  his  father  still 
lived,  but  that  he  had  changed  his  place  of  residence, 
and  settled  upon  a  farm  near  Paine's  Post,  engaged  in 
farming  and  mercantile  business.  The  appearance  of 
the  son  and  his  wife  must  have  been  like  those  having 
risen  from  the  grave,  as  seventeen  years  before  they 
had  been  supposed  to  be  murdered  upon  the  plains. 
At  the  time  of  the  recapture,  Mr.  Kimball  received 
a  ball  through  his  left  wrist,  and  also  an  arrow 
wound. 

Elizabeth  Blackwell,  a  young  lady  of  more  than 


OK,    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  145 

ordinary  beauty,  migrated  with  her  parents  to  the 
regions  of  Salt  Lake  City,  where  they  united  with 
the  Church  of  the  Latter-day  Saints,  and,  like  many 
others,  had  not  resided  there  long,  ere  a  vision  was 
received  by  the  head  of  the  family,  directing  him  to 
take  another  wife — one,  by  the  way,  that  was  more 
comely  than  Mrs.  Blackwell,  Elizabeth's  mother. 

This  practical  version  of  the  doctrine  of  the  church 
produced  a  little  unpleasantness  in  the  family,  and, 
although  it  was  inculcated  in  the  doctrine  that  sub 
mission  was  a  duty  in  a  wife  and  children,  Elizabeth 
and  her  mother  could  not  understand  the  moral,  and 
ventured,  indiscreetly,  it  seems,  to  remonstrate  against 
this  innovation  in  family  matters.  The  husband  and 
father-,  however,  in  accordance  with  the  custom  of 
that  people,  brought  home  his  second  wife,  and  she, 
very  naturally,  supplanted  the  faithful  old  wife  of 
his  youth  and  the  mother  of  his  children,  who 
found  herself  neglected,  and  even  abused.  Finally, 
matters  reached  a  crisis.  This  injustice  could  no 
longer  be  endured  without  rebellion,  and,  acting  upon 
that  conclusion,  the  family  was  not  a  happy  one.  Mr. 
Blackwell,  in  one  of  his  attempts  to  produce  good 
order  in  the  house,  and  govern  the  family  according 
to  principles  inculcated  by  the  believers  of  the  Mor- 
rnon  Church,  proceeded  to  inflict  summary  punish 
ment  upon  Mrs.  Blackwell,  senior.  Though  Eliza 
beth  was  a  member  of  the  church,  she  had  not  been 
convinced  that  this  was  one  of  the  duties  of  a  hus 
band,  and,  therefore,  ventured  to  remonstrate,  taking 
13  K 


1-16  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

her  mother's  part  with  an  earnestness  that  caused  her 
father  to  vent  his  indignation  upon  her.  He  vainly 
attempted  her  subjugation,  and  in  one  of  his  nourishes 
with  a  knife  he  destroyed  one  of  poor  Elizabeth's 
eyes. 

Unable  to  endure  longer  the  abuse  and  oppression 
of  the  tyrannical  and  inhuman  father,  the  wretched 
mother,  with  her  three  children,  attempted  to  es 
cape  from  this  land  of  promise,  and,  though  dan 
ger  surrounded  them  on  every  hand,  they  started  to 
ward  an  emigrant  road,  which  they  had  ascertained 
lay  to  the  east,  near  Fort  Bridger.  Having  had  little 
experience  in  a  mountainous  country,  and  being  over 
taken  by  a  violent  snow-storm,  they  became  be 
wildered,  and  lost  their  way.  Night  set  in,  with  cold 
and  tempestuous  weather,  and,  during  the  night,  the 
mother  and  one  of  her  daughters  died,  and  in  the 
morning  another  died.  It  appeared  that  they  were 
unable  to  procure  a  fire,  on  account  of  the  absence  of 
matches,  and  thus  were  unprotected  from  the  inclem 
ency  of  the  weather,  save  by  the  inadequate  clothing 
upon  their  persons.  All  day  and  all  night  they  had 
wandered  through  the  freezing  cold,  until,  overcome 
with  fatigue,  they  took  shelter  in  a  caiion — the  drift 
ing  snow,  like  a  white  shroud,  shutting  out  the  world 
forever  from  the  eyes  of  the  feeble  mother  and  two 
of  her  children.  When  the  rising  sun  appeared,  it 
kissed  the  pale  cheek  of  the  dead  and  dying,  and  the 
solitary  flight  of  a  vulture,  as  he  encircled  the  antici 
pated  feast  with  croaks  of  triumph,  was  all  that  could 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  147 

be  seen,  save  the  unbroken  surface  of  the  sparkling 
snow. 

Some  Indians,  attracted  by  the  ominous  flight  of 
the  circling  bird,  sought  the  spot,  ariving  just  in  time 
to  save  Elizabeth  from  death,  but,  alas !  not  from 
mutilation. 

Taking  her  up,  they  bore  her  to  their  camp,  where, 
with  unremitting,  care,  her  life  was  saved,  but  her 
limbs  were  so  badly  frozen  that  amputation  of  both 
became  necessary,  and  they  were  taken  off  above  the 
knee. 

The  kindness  she  received  from  these  Indians  so  won 
her  affection,  that  she  prefers  to  remain  with  them  ; 
and  they,  with  the  superstitious  notions  so  comrno]] 
among  Indians,  regard  her  as  one  sent  to  them  b} 
the  Great  Spirit. 

She  is  able  to  relate  many  instances  of  Indian 
life,  one  or  two  of  which  are  quite  interesting.  We 
give  them  briefly :  One  day,  a  young  woman  was 
brought  into  camp,  and  as  a  warrior  stepped  to 
the  side  of  the  horse  to  assist  in  dismounting,  she 
drew  a  pistol  and  shot  him  through  the  heart.  She 
was  immediately  condemned  to  suffer  death  by  tor 
ture,  and  was,  accordingly,  tied  to  a  stake,  when 
very  many  small  gashes  were  cut  in  her  body  and 
limbs,  these  filled  with  gunpowder,  and  finally  ignited 
with  hot  irons.  The  wretched  woman's  screams  were 
dreadful,  and,  being  mingled  with  the  jeers  of  her  tor 
mentors,  were  more  than  Elizabeth  Blackwell  could 
endure  to  hear.  She  begged  that  the  suffering  woman 


148  THE    CAPTUKE   AND   ESCAPE; 

might  be  relieved  by  death,  if  they  would  not  let  her 
live;  which  request  was  granted,  and  a  tomahawk 
ended  her  misery. 

These  Indians  sometimes  capture  little  children  and 
bring  them  up  as  their  own.  The  history  of  one  of 
these  is  given  in  the  following  narrative:  A  squaw 
had  seen  a  little  girl  of  about  twelve  years  playing 
near  her  father's  house,  and  determined  to  secure  her. 
For  this  purpose  she  placed  herself  in  ambush  near 
the  child,  who  was  gathering  wild  flowers,  and,  spring 
ing  upon  her,  covered  her  head  with  a  buffalo-robe. 
She  carried  the  child  to  the  Indian  camp,  which  was 
in  the  neighborhood.  The  father  of  this  squaw  had, 
a  few  weeks  before,  lost  by  death  a  daughter  of  about 
the  same  age  as  the  stolen  child,  and,  upon  receiving 
the  little  prisoner,  adopted  her  as  his  own,  and  sent  a 
party  to  destroy  her  father's  house  with  all  its  inmates. 
The  little  girl  was  named  "  Bluebird,"  because  of  the 
color  of  her  eyes. 

For  three  years  she  was  guarded  with  jealous  care, 
and  every  effort  was  made  to  cause  her  to  forget  her 
own  people.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  she  was 
given  to  the  chief's  son  in  marriage ;  but,  very  natu 
rally,  the  poor  girl  could  not  love  the  untutored 
savage  thus  forced  upon  her,  and  her  dislike,  so  evi 
dent  and  unequivocal,  produced  a  feeling  of  resent 
ment  in  the  bosom  of  the  young  chief,  which  vented 
itself  in  abuse  on  his  unwilling  wife.  One  year  after 
their  marriage  a  daughter  was  born ;  but  the  mother 
never  recovered,  and  in  three  months  died,  leaving 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  149 

her  helpless  child  to  lead  a  life  of  savage  wander 
ings. 

Elizabeth  BlackwelFs  father  soon  became  tired  of 
his  Mormon  wife  and  the  restraints  of  the  saints ;  so, 
taking  to  the  mountains,  he  became  a  noted  highway 
man,  and  after  some  years,  hearing  of  his  daughter's 
residence  among  the  Indians,  he  visited  her,  and  gave 
her  a  large  amount  of  his  stolen  money.  Eeturning 
to  civilization,  and  continuing  in  his  downward  career, 
he  was  taken  by  the  Vigilance  Committee,  at  Virginia 
City,  Montana,  and  executed. 

In  the  summer  of  1865,  a  Mr.  Fletcher  and  his 
family  were  travelling  with  a  train  en  route  for  Ore 
gon.  He  had  one  beautiful  daughter,  who  fell  in  love 
with  a  young  physician.  They  walked,  rode,  and  sang 
together,  after  the  manner  of  young  people.  But  this 
did  not  coincide  with  Mr.  Fletcher's  views  of  propriety, 
and  he  detached  his  teams  from  the  large  train,  thus 
travelling  by  themselves,  leaving  the  young  man 
behind,  and  breaking  off  the  intercourse  of  the  lovers. 
The  second  day  of  their  journey  alone,  Mr.  Fletcher 
and  his  family  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  five  hun 
dred  Indians.  The  large  train  protected  itself,  but 
these,  unfortunately,  with  all  their  effects,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Indians. 

Mrs.  Fletcher  was  horribly  mutilated,  being  cut 
into  small  pieces.  Her  husband  was  wounded,  and, 
endeavoring  to  escape  to  the  train,  was  shot  again  by 
a  savage  that  pursued  him  and  took  his  horse,  leaving 
the  body  upon  the  ground  where  it  had  fallen.  A 
13* 


150  THE    CAPTUEE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

little  boy  was  instantly  killed,  but  a  little  girl  of  five 
years  was  taken  on  the  journey  for  the  space  of  two 
days,  when,  becoming  tired  of  the  care  of  her,  they 
dashed  her  head  to  pieces  against  a  rock.  Miss 
Fletcher  was  carried  away  and  retained  a  prisoner  for 
one  year,  when  she  was  exchanged  for  merchandise. 
On  her  return  home  she  expressed  no  particular  desire 
to  go  to  her  people;  but,  on  the  contrary,  seemed 
entirely  resigned  to  her  fate  with  the  Indians,  saying 
she  had  been  to  blame,  and  deserved  to  be  punished. 

The  Indian  village  near  Fort  Laramie  was  a  place 
of  amusement  for  every  person  belonging  to  the  garri 
son.  Even  women  and  children  sometimes  visited  it 
to  hear  the  squaws  and  papooses  talk.  Though  the 
language  is  a  mere  jargon,  when  mixed  with  English 
and  accompanied  by  signs  it  is  not  difficult  to  under 
stand. 

The  Indians  that  were  perpetrating  these  outrages 
were  the  same  that  escaped  justice  two  years  before, 
after  committing  an  indiscriminate  slaughter  in  Min 
nesota.  One  of  these  friendly  Indians  told  of  being 
in  the  Minnesota  war,  and  being  taken  sick  —  not, 
however,  until  he  had  killed  several  persons  —  and, 
compelled  by  illness  to  linger  behind,  was  overtaken 
by  a  squad  of  soldiers,  who  carried  him  to  their  fort, 
took  him  in,  and  tenderly  cared  for  him.  When  he 
recovered  from  his  illness  they  supplied  him  with 
clothing,  gave  him  meat  for  his  journey,  and  sent  him 
to  his  mother,  cautioning  him,  however,  to  fight  no 
more.  Here  he  laughed  derisively  at  the  idea  of  an 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  151 

Indian  brave  abandoning  his  profession.  He  told  of 
several  instances  of  the  outrageous  cruelties  of  his 
band  in  their  marauding  and  murderous  attacks  in 
Minnesota,  one  of  which  is  particularly  shocking.  An 
infant  was  taken  from  its  mother's  arms  and  placed  in 
a  bake-oven  that  was  heated  before  the  fire,  then  the 
scorching  lid  was  placed  over  it.  The  sight  so  ago 
nized  the  mother,  that,  disregarding  herself,  she  strug 
gled  frantically  to  force  her  way  to  her  child,  but  was 
stabbed  through  and  through,  falling  dead  even  before 
her  baby's  sufferings  were  ended. 

Several  little  girls  they  captured  and  carried  away, 
but  they  survived  the  savage  treatment,  and  were  ran 
somed  at  Fort  Pierre. 

A  -  dear  cousin  of  my  own  was  murdered  some 
years  ago  in  Nevada.  I  believe,  however,  that  the 
circumstance  has  not  been  narrated  for  the  public, 
and  I  relate  it  in  connection  with  the  foregoing 
accounts. 

Mr.  Jones,  with  his  wife  and  children,  were  emi 
grating  to  Oregon,  and  when  they  had  arrived  in  the 
Humboldt  Valley,  he  was  taken  with  sudden  sickness, 
and  they  were  compelled  to  stop  for  a  while.  Finding 
a  hunter's  deserted  cabin  near  the  road,  they  took  pos 
session  of  it.  The  Indians  were  reported  hostile,  hav 
ing  committed  several  outrages  upon  emigrants,  though 
to  no  great  extent. 

Mr.  Jones  grew  worse,  and  his  death  was  every 
hour  expected,  and  though  he  pleaded  that  Mrs.  Jones 
should  save  herself  and  the  children,  she  resolutely 


152 

refused  to  leave  her  husband  in  this  critical  hour, 
trusting  in  God's  mercy  for  safety. 

The  second  night  of  their  stay  in  the  cabin,  after 
seeing  the  two  youngest  children  peacefully  sleeping, 
she  took  her  seat  with  the  eldest,  a  bright  boy  of  eight 
years,  by  her  husband's  bedside.  Suddenly  a  noise, 
resembling  the  cry  of  the  whippoorwill,  attracted 
their  attention,  and  a  fearful  foreboding  of  danger 
pervaded  their  minds.  Mrs.  Jones  stepped  to  the  door 
and  looked  out  into  the  darkness,  but  could  see  no 
thing,  nor  was  the  noise  of  the  whippoorwill  to  be 
heard;  and  returning  to  her  husband,  she  had  scarcely 
seated  herself,  when  footsteps  without  startled  her. 
She  made  a  movement  for  her  husband's  gun,  when 
the  frail  door  fell  into  pieces  upon  the  floor,  and  a 
number  of  fierce  savages,  immediately  rushing  into 
the  room,  instantly  shot  Mr.  Jones  through  the  head. 
She  sprang  forward  as  she  saw  her  husband's  blood 
gush  from  the  wound,  and,  with  the  courage  of  despair, 
shot  the  murderer.  Immediately  their  weapons  were 
turned  upon  her,  and  she  fell,  mortally  wounded,  by 
her  dead  husband's  side. 

The  little  boy,  having  witnessed  the  death  of  his 
father,  and  beheld  his  mother  fall,  and  realizing  his 
lonely  situation,  with  noble  fortitude  presented  him 
self  to  the  chief,  and,  baring  his  youthful  breast,  begged 
to  share  the  fate  of  his  parents.  The  savage  raised 
his  gun,  but  it  missed  fire,  and  the  child  stood  unhurt. 
Again  the  gun  snapped,  with  the  same  result ;  when 
the  chief,  influenced  by  a  superstitious  feeling,  which 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  153 

prevails  among  all  Indians,  and  astonished  with  the 
remarkable  daring  of  the  child,  forbore;  and  placing 
the  weapon  of  death  upon  the  floor,  he  commanded 
the  boy  to  save  himself  and  the  other  children.  The 
little  boy  immediately  sought  his  dying  mother's  side, 
and  telling  her  the  chief 's  order,  inquired  what  she 
would  have  him  do  with  the  children.  The  mother, 
realizing  that  her  counsel  was  all  she  could  give  her 
little  ones  in  that  moment  of  peril,  kissed  and  blessed 
them,  telling  him  to  take  the  children,  and  find  a  path 
that  led  across  the  country,  one  or  two  miles,  to  the  place 
where  she  had  been  told  a  hunter  lived.  The  boy,  con 
trolling  his  emotions,  and  inspired  with  precocious  wis 
dom  to  aid  him  in  his  arduous  duties  and  responsibili 
ties,  listened  while  his  dying  parent  told  him  what  she 
desired  him  to  do  for  himself  and  the  helpless  little  ones 
she  was  leaving  forever.  She  commended  the  younger 
ones  to  his  brotherly  care,  with  an  injunction  to  obedi 
ence  on  their  part,  and,  when  her  glazing  eyes  were  set 
ting  in  death,  saw  them  depart  into  the  darkness  on  their 
perilous  and  uncertain  journey,  while  he!"  soul  flut 
tered  on  the  threshold  of  eternity,  praying  for  their 
welfare  to  the  God  in  whose  presence  she  would  soon 
appear.  She  was  immediately  taken  from  the  house, 
and  fires  lighted,  and  thus  ended  her  life. 

When  the  children  arrived  at  the  place  of  their 
expected  refuge,  they  found,  to  their  dismay,  that 
the  hut  was  deserted,  for  the  occupants  had  been 
slaughtered  by  the  savages.  What  to  do  was  a  seri 
ous  question  for  the  little  brother  to  decide,  as  he  con- 


151  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

tinned  wandering  about  the  pathless  wilderness, 
wearily  to  watch  for  the  skulking  savages  that  might 
beset  their  way,  and  to  gain  what  little  nourishment 
they  might  from  leaves  and  bark,  hoping  that  God, 
in  his  mercy,  would  guide  them  to  some  friendly 
cabin,  or  remove  them  to  himself.  In  this  lonely  con 
dition  they  spent  that  day  and  the  next,  but  on  the 
third,  to  their  awakening  horror,  they  saw  a  savage 
approaching. 

Terrible  experience  had  made  the  eldest  boy  a  hero, 
and  knowing  no  phase  of  Indian  character  but  fiend 
ish  brutality,  he  gathered  a  pile  of  stones,  and  station 
ing  himself  in  front  of  his  brother  and  baby  sister, 
with  his  father's  pocket-knife  in  his  hand,  resolved  to 
defend  himself  and  them  to  the  last. 

The  Indian  drew  near,  surprised  to  see  the  children 
there,  and,  when  he  beheld  the  boy's  preparation  for 
defence,  he  laughed,  and  in  signs  assured  him  of  his 
friendly  disposition,  which  the  boy  at  first  disbelieved, 
but  finally  the  Indian  succeeded  in  convincing  them 
that  he  intended  no  harm. 

It  is  pleasant  to  find  any  palliation  of  savage 
cruelty,  and  this  Indian  proved  himself  to  be  a  rare 
exception  to  the  ferocious  rule.  He  took  the  little 
orphans  in  a  canoe  down  a  river,  and  stopping  at  in 
tervals,  went  ashore  to  gather  bark,  berries,  and  roots 
to  feed  them,  showing  a  truly  kind  and  amiable  dis 
position  in  all  his  actions. 

The  younger  children  suffered  terribly  from  the  expo 
sure  and  meagre  fare,  and  when,  after  a  journey  of  two 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  155 

hundred  miles,  they  arrived  at  a  settlement  of  civil izpd 
people,  were  so  reduced  as  to  be  unable  to  stand  on 
their  feet. 

Some  emigrants  kindly  carried  the  little  orphans 
to  San  Francisco,  where  a  benefit  was  given  them  in  a 
theatre,  and  their  story  was  made  into  ballad  form 
and  sung  with  great  effect  by  a  young  vocalist,  named 
Miss  Fanny  Blodgett.  Their  uncle,  John  Smail, 
who  was  then  residing  in  Oregon,  being  informed 
of  the  sad  fate  of  his  sister  and  her  husband,  with 
the  helpless  condition  of  the  children,  immediately 
came  for  them,  and  carried  them  East  to  their  rela 
tives,  placing  them  under  excellent  care,  and,  as  far  as 
possible,  supplying  the  place  of  their  parents.  The  two 
younger  children  have  since  died,  but  the  eldest  lives, 
and  bids  fair  to  fulfil  his  early  and  precocious  promise. 

Four  women,  that  were  stolen  by  savages  from  Min 
nesota  in  1862,  were  brought  into  the  country  north 
west  of  Fort  Laramie.  One  was  a  young  girl,  who 
gave  her  name  as  Mary  Boshea,  and  said  she  was  the 
daughter  of  a  Frenchman,  who  lived  near  Spirit 
Lake,  Minnesota.  The  family  were  all  murdered,  ex 
cept  Mary,  whose  life  was  spared  for  years  of  slavery 
with  the  hostile  Sioux.  One  year  she  was  treated  as  a 
child,  then  taken  for  the  wife  of  a  warrior,  and  possibly 
to-day  roams  the  hills  with  her  savage  companions. 
One  of  the  others,  being  unable  to  travel,  was  shot, 
while  crossing  a  creek  on  a  beaver  dam,  fell  off,  and 
sank  in  the  water.  The  others  were  one  Mrs.  Wright 
and  Mrs.  Dooley. 


156       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

The  former  had  one  child,  a  little  boy,  whom  the 
Indians  killed,  and  left  unburied  by  the  side  of  a  path 
that  was  frequented  for  wood  and  water,  and  the 
afflicted  mother  was  compelled  to  go  frequently  by 
the  spot  where  the  decaying  body  of  her  child  lay, 
but  she  dared  not  turn  aside  to  place  a  covering  upon 
the  little  body. 

I  have  been  told  that  Mrs.  Wright  was  finally  ran 
somed  at  Fort  Pierre,  and,  that  immediately  on  arriv 
ing  at  Yankton,  a  small  town  on  the  Missouri  River, 
she  applied  to  the  Legislature,  that  happened  to  be 
in  session  at  that  time,  for  a  bill  of  divorcement  from 
her  husband,  urging,  as  her  reason,  his  cruelty  in 
leaving  her  and  their  child  in  jeopardy  when  the 
Indians  came  upon  them. 

The  husband,  learning  of  his  wife's  presence  in 
town,  hastened  to  meet  her,  and  she,  not  knowing 
that  he  was  in  that  section  of  the  country,  answered 
the  call  of  the  door -bell,  and  saw  her  husband. 
Their  eyes  met.  She  gave  one  scream,  and  fled  from 
his  sight  to  her  own  room. 

At  this  unkind  reception  from  one  he  had  so  long 
mourned  as  dead,  or  lost  forever,  the  sorrowful  hus 
band  sat  down  and  wept. 

The  kind-hearted  landlady,  compassionating  his 
sorrow,  undertook  to  plead  his  cause  with  the  heart 
broken  wife,  and  at  last  succeeded  in  gaining  her  con 
sent  to  an  interview,  when  a  reconciliation  was  effected. 
At  the  time  of  Mrs.  Wright's  ransom  she  had  pleaded 
vainlv  for  the  ransom  of  poor  Mary  Boshea. 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  157 

Mrs.  Dooley's  children,  five  in  number,  were  all 
murdered.  Her  husband  had  been  wounded  and  left 
for  dead,  but  finally  recovered.  Mrs.  Dooley's  grief 
was  greater  than  her  reason  could  bear.  When  in  her 
own  happy  home,  she  was  a  lady  of  more  than  ordi 
nary  intelligence  and  beauty,  but  when  she  was  ran 
somed  at  Fort  Pierre  it  was  too  late,  and  she  was 
carried  to  an  insane  asylum,  whither  her  broken 
hearted  husband  soon  afterward  followed  her. 

An  extremely  interesting  account  of  the  Hermit  of 
the  Gila  is  related  by  a  returned  captive  from  the 
Apaches,  who  inhabit  the  country  north  of  the  wild 
and  picturesque  river  which  is  a  part  of  the  boundary 
line  between  the  Republic  of  Mexico  and  the  United 
States.-  This  region  abounds  in  scenery  of  the  most 
sublime  description.  Carious  of  hundreds  of  miles 
in  extent,  through  which  rush  mighty  rivers,  and 
mountains  of  the  most  bold  and  stupendous  outline, 
mock  the  attempt  to  convey,  by  description,  their  sub 
lime  order  and  beauty.  Not  only  is  it  magnificent  in 
outline,  but  it  is  also  curious  in  detail.  Hundreds  of 
miles  in  extent  are  covered  with  huge  pyramidal  rocks, 
which  appear  like  the  remains  of  ancient  fortifications, 
where  battlements  and  towers  rise  one  after  another 
in  indescribable  grandeur.  Again,  the  ruins  of  Egyp 
tian  greatness  and  skill  seem  to  be  represented  by 
these  fantastic  grottos,  gloomily  frowning  above  the 
plains,  over  which  the  wild  Apache  drives  his  herds, 
or  lazily  saunters  in  quest  of  game.  Nor  are  these 
wild  mockeries  of  man's  skill  and  aspirations  alone 
14 


158  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE; 

the  attractions,  for  mingled  with  them  are  the  ruins  of 
cities  and  nations  that  have  passed  away.  The  rude 
tombs  of  kings  and  princes  lie  here,  half  buried  in 
the  accumulated  dust  of  centuries,  mocking  the  futile 
effort  of  the  antiquarian  to  fathom  the  mystery  of 
their  origin.  It  is  only  conjecture  that  ascribes  these 
ruins  to  the  Aztecs,  the  warlike  nation  that  built  the 
beautiful  city  of  Mexico,  and  perished  in  the  ashes 
of  their  own  dwellings.  Amid  these  decaying  ruins 
are  found  fragments  of  their  cooking-utensils,  mirrors 
of  Iztli,  and  fragments  of  sculpture-work  represent 
ing  their  deity,  "  Huitzilopochtli."  These  silent  mon 
uments  of  the  forgotten  past  lay  scattered  over  a  vast 
country,  abandoned  to  the  lizard  and  the  tarantula, 
who  crawl  over  these  unknown  relics  of  the  past  to 
stretch  themselves  unmolested  under  the  rays  of  the 
morning  sun.  Around  on  every  hand  curiosities  of 
nature  abound,  making  it  look  like  the  work  of  en 
chantment.  These  objects  of  sublime  interest  differ 
greatly  in  their  formation,  as  well  as  in  their  external 
appearance ;  some  consisting  of  hard  clay,  others  of 
rock  almost  as  white  as  the  drifting  snow,  gypsum 
bluffs,  and  huge  sandstone  boulders  and  cliffs;  some 
again  having  a  dark  hue,  being,  in  reality,  anthracite 
and  bituminous  coal  formations — high  columns  rising 
from  the  earth  like  the  mammoth  trees  of  California, 
from  twenty  to  thirty  feet  in  diameter,  as  round  and 
true  in  their  outlines  as  if  they  had  been  moulded  by 
the  hand  of  art.  These  columns  are  surrounded  by 
huge  rings,  projecting  many  feet  around,  and  making 
their  summits  inaccessible  to  almost  all  living  things, 


OR,    LIFE   AMOXG   THE    SIOUX.  159 

except  the  birds  of  the  air.  Upon  entering  still  far 
ther  among  them,  these  columns  and  shafts  blend  into 
one  common  mass,  and  present  the  appearance  of  a 
grand  roof  supported  by  innumerable  pillars,  while 
the  outward  surroundings  are  covered  with  sand 
dotted  with  cactus  and  small  trees.  In  these  dark 
recesses  the  huge  grisly  bear  and  mountain  lion  find 
a  safe  retreat  from  the  hunter,  while  the  overhanging 
rocks  form  desirable  positions  for  clusters  of  bats  and 
owls.  Howling  wolves  make  the  deep  recesses  echo 
with  their  lonely  cry  of  hunger  and  defiance.  Upon 
the  summits  of  the  loftiest  peaks  the  American  eagle 
surveys  the  plains  below,  or  scours  the  valleys  to 
find  food  for  the  young  eaglets  in  their  eyry.  And 
over  all  the  California  vulture  sweeps,  secure  alike 
from  man  and  beast,  and  in  majesty  defiantly  pursues 
his  lonely  flight. 

The  effect  of  artificial  light  upon  these  wonders  of 
nature  is  indeed  grand.  A  torch  in  the  darkness  of 
night  almost  endows  these  grotesque  forms  with  life 
and  animation,  calling  to  mind  Milton's  description 
of  the  infernal  regions,  where  the  council  of  the  lead 
ing  spirits  of  evil  held  their  deliberations,  and  planned 
a  war  against  Heaven.  Among  these  rocks  lived  a 
hermit,  who  was  not  a  native  of  the  country,  and  none 
knew  whence  he  came,  or  how  long  he  had  been  there. 
Much  of  his  life  had  been  spent  among  these  hills, 
sleeping  at  night  in  crevices  and  caverns  which  the  hand 
of  nature  had  formed.  His  food  consisted  of  wild  fruits 
and  herbs,  together  with  such  game  as  he  could  trap 
and  snare.  His  only  drink  was  water  from  a  brook, 


160       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE. 

from  which  he  also  drew  some  small  fish  with  hooka 
made  from  bone.  His  clothing  consisted  of  such  skins 
as  he  was  able  to  obtain,  and  they  were  sewed  together 
with  sinews.  He  wore  the  hair-side  out,  and  with  a 
belt  secured  it  around  his  waist. 

The  Indians  believed  him  to  be  some  supernatural 
being,  and  carefully  avoided  him  ;  they  supposing  him 
to  be  the  remnant  of  some  inoffensive  people,  that  had 
been  lost  in  an  earthquake,  and  connected  him  with 
the  remarkable  ruins  which  surrounded  his  abode. 
This  mystery  which  enveloped  him  was  the  secret  of 
his  security,  for  other  intruders  coming  to  the  country 
were  swept  without  mercy  from  the  earth  by  the 
fierce  and  warlike  chiefs. 

I  was  mournfully  struck  with  the  desolate  expres 
sion  of  this  man's  countenance.  He  was  evidently  on 
the  verge  of  eternity,  and,  looking  back  over  a  long 
life,  he  could  not  but  acknowledge  it  a  misspent  one, 
since  not  one  talent  had  he  rendered  back  to  his  Great 
Master.  His  head  was  covered  with  long  gray  hair, 
which  fell  upon  his  shoulders,  and  his  white  beard  fell 
upon  his  breast.  One  thin  hand  grasped  a  rude  cane, 
while  the  other  clasped  a  door-post  of  his  hut  to  sup 
port  his  bowed  and  trembling  form. 

I  listened  while  he  told  his  story  as  to  his  motive 
in  coming  there;  how  fifty  years  of  his  life  had  been 
wasted ;  why  he  had  become  disgusted  with  the  world, 
*  and  had  withdrawn  from  it.  In  a  rock  he  said  he  had 
dug  a  sepulchre  for  his  body;  but  who,  thought  I,  as 
I  received  his  blessing  and  bade  him  adieu,  will  roll  a 
stone  to  the  door  ? 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FORT  PHILIP  KEARNEY  MASSACRE  —  FROM  THE  SENATE 
DOCUMENT  OF  1867. 

TIIHE  main  object  sought  to  be  secured  by  the  treaty 
J-  of  Laramie,  of  July,  A.  D.  1866,  was  the  opening 
of  a  new  route  to  Montana  from  Fort  Laramie,  via 
Bridgets  Ferry  and  the  head-waters  of  the  Powder, 
Tongue,  and  Big  Horn  rivers. 

This  country  was  occupied  by  the  Ogallalla  and 
Minnecongoux  band  of  Sioux,  the  Northern  Chey 
enne  and  Arappahoe  tribes,  and  the  Mountain  Crows. 
The  region  through  which  the  road  was  to  pass,  and 
does  pass,  is  the  most  attractive  and  valuable  to  the 
Indians.  It  abounds  with  game.  Flocks  of  mountain 
sheep,  droves  of  elk  and  deer,  and  herds  of  buffalo 
range  through  and  live  in  this  country,  and  the 
Indians  with  propriety  call  it  their  "  last,  best  hunting- 
grounds."  All  these  Indians  were  reluctant  to  allow 
the  proposed  road  to  pass  through  these  hunting- 
grounds;  but  all  would  reluctantly  assent  to  this  for 
so  liberal  an  equivalent  as  the  Government  was  will 
ing  to  give.  The  Indians  were  required  further  to 
stipulate  that  the  Government  should  have  the  right 
to  establish  one  or  more  military  posts  on  this  road, 
in  their  country.  All  the  Indians  occupying  it  refused 
14*  L  161 


162  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE; 

thus  to  stipulate,  and  the  chiefs,  head  men,  and  war 
riors  protested  against  the  establishment  of  any  mili 
tary  post  on  their  hunting-grounds,  along  that  road, 
north  of  Fort  Reno, 

While-negotiations  were  going  on  with  Red  Cloud 
and  their  leading  chiefs,  to  induce  them  to  yield  to 
the  Government  the  right  peacefully  to  establish  these 
military  posts,  (which  right  they  persistently  refused 
to  yield,  saying  it  was  asking  too  much  of  their  people 
—  asking  all  they  had  —  for  it  would  drive  away  all 
their  game,)  Colonel  H.  B.  Carrington,  18th  United 
States  Infantry,  with  about  seven  hundred  officers  and 
men,  arrived  at  Laramie,  en  route  to  their  country,  to 
establish  and  occupy  military  posts  along  the  Mon 
tana  road,  pursuant  to  General  Orders  No.  33,  from 
the  headquarters  of  the  Department  of  the  Missouri, 
March  10,  1866,  Major  General  Pope  commanding. 
The  destination  and  purpose  of  Colonel  Carrington  and 
his  command  were  communicated  to  their  chiefs.  They 
seemed  to  construe  this  into  a  determination  on  the  part 
of  the  Government  to  occupy  their  country  by  military 
posts,  even  without  their  consent,  or  that  of  their  people, 
and,  as  soon  as  practicable,  they  withdrew  from  the  coun 
cil,  with  their  adherents,  refusing  to  accept  any  presents 
from  the  commissioners,  returned  to  their  country, 
and,  with  a  strong  force  of  warriors,  commenced  a 
vigorous  and  relentless  war  against  all  whites  who 
came  into  it,  including  citizens  and  soldiers.  Quite  a 
large  number  of  Indians,  who  did  not  occupy  the  coun 
try  along  the  road,  were  anxious  to  make  a  treaty  and 


OE,   LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  163 

remain  at  peace.  Some  of  this  class  had  resided  near 
Fort  Laramie,  others  (Brules)  occupied  the  White- 
earth  River  valley  and  the  Sand  Hills  south  of  that 
river.  The  commmissioners  appointed  several  of  the 
leading  warriors  of  these  Indians  as  chiefs,  viz. :  Big 
Mouth,  Spotted  Tail,  Swift  Bear,  and  Two-Strike. 
A  portion  of  these  Indians  have  remained  near  Fort 
Laramie,  and  a  portion  of  them  on  the  Republican 
Fork  of  the  Kansas  River,  and  have  strictly  complied 
with  their  treaty  stipulations. 

The  number  of  Sioux  Indians  who  considered 
themselves  bound  by  the  treaty,  and  who  have  re 
mained  at  peace,  is  about  two  thousand,  while  the 
Ogallalla  and  Brule  bands,  the  Northern  Cheyennes 
and  Arrapahoes,  with  a  few  Sans  Arcs,  numbering  in 
the  aggregate  about  six  hundred,  remained  in  their 
old  country,  and  went  to  war  under  their  old  chiefs, 
and,  by  conquest,  after  bloody  wars,  saved  their  coun 
try  from  invasion  and  occupation  by  the  whites.  This 
war  has  been  carried  on  by  the  Indians  with  most 
extraordinary  vigor  and  unwonted  success.  From 
July  26th,  the  day  on  which  Lieutenant  Wand's  train 
was  attacked,  to  the  21st  day  of  December,  on  which 
Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fetterman,  with  his  com 
mand  of  eighty  officers  and  men,  was  overpowered  and 
massacred,  they  killed  ninety-one  enlisted  men  and 
five  officers  of  our  army,  and  fifty-eight  citizens,  and 
wounded  twenty  more,  capturing  and  driving  away 
three  hundred  and  six  oxen  and  cows,  three  hundred 
and  four  mules,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  horses. 


164:  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

During  this  time  they  appeared  in  front  of  Fort  Philip 
Kearney,  making  hostile  demonstrations  and  commit 
ting  hostile  acts  fifty-one  different  times,  and  attacked 
nearly  every  train  and  person  that  attemped  to  pass 
over  the  Montana  road. 

The  following  account  of  the  massacre  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Fetterman's  party  includes  the  causes  which 
led  to  it : 

General  Order,  No.  33,  from  the  headquarters  of 
the  Department  of  the  Missouri,  dated  March  10, 
1866,  directed  that  two  new  military  posts  should  be 
established  on  the  new  route  to  Montana  —  one  "near 
the  base  of  the  Big  Horn  Mountains,"  the  other  "  on 
or  near  the  Upper  Yellowstone,"  and  designated  the 
2d  battalion  of  the  18th  Infantry  to  garrison  the  three 
posts  on  this  route,  created  the  Mountain  District, 
Department  of  the  Platte,  and  directed  the  colonel  of 
the  regiment  (Colonel  H.  B.  Carrington)  to  take  his 
post  at  Fort  Reno,  and  command  the  district,  which 
included  all  the  troops  and  garrisons  on  that  route. 

General  Order,  No.  7,  from  the  headquarters  of  the 
Department  of  the  Platte,  June  23,  1866,  directed 
that  the  2d  battalion  of  the  18th  Infantry  should  take 
posts  as  follows:  Two  companies  at  Fort  Reno,  on 
Powder  River;  two  companies  about  eighty  miles 
nearly  south  of  Fort  Reno,  on  the  waters  of  the  Pow 
der  or  Tongue  River,  which  post  should  be  known  as 
Fort  Philip  Kearney;  and  two  companies  at  the  cross 
ing  of  the  Big  Horn  River,  on  the  same  road,  and 
about  seventy  miles  beyond  Fort  Philip  Kearney,  to 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  165 

be  known  as  Fort  C.  F.  Smith,  directing  that  the 
colonel  of  the  regiment  should  take  post  at  Fort  Phi 
lip  Kearney,  to  command  the  "  Mountain  District/' 

The  orders  above  referred  to  were  issued  with  the 
express  understanding,  apparently,  that  this  road  to 
Montana  was  to  be  opened  through  the  Indian  coun 
try  by  compact  or  treaty  with  the  savages  occupying 
it,  and  not  by  conquest  and  the  exercise  of  arbitrary 
power  on  the  part  of  the  Government;  hence,  Colo 
nel  Carrington's  instructions,  looking  mainly  to  the 
duty  of  selecting  and  building  two  new  forts  —  Philip 
Kearney  and  C.  F.  Smith  —  the  command  assigned 
was  only  sufficient  for  this  purpose,  and  for  properly 
garrisoning  the  forts.  This  command  numbered  in 
all  about  seven  hundred  men,  five  hundred  of  whom 
were  new  recruits,  and  twelve  officers,  including  dis 
trict  commander  and  staff. 

The  commanding  officer,  Colonel  Carrington,  did 
not  fail  to  see  at  once,  that,  although  his  command 
was  entirely  sufficient  to  erect  the  new  forts,  build  the 
barracks,  warehouses,  and  stables,  and  make  prepara 
tions  for  winter,  and  properly  garrisoning  his  posts, 
and  could  protect  emigration  from  the  small  thieving 
parties  of  Indians,  it  was  still  entirely  inadequate  to 
carry  on  a  systematically  aggressive  war  against  a 
most  powerful  tribe  of  Indians,  fighting  to  maintain 
possession  and  the  control  of  their  own  country,  in 
addition  to  those  other  duties. 

This  officer  carried  the  orders  above  referred  to  into 
effect  with  promptness  and  zeal,  organizing  the  Moun- 


166  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE 


tain  District,  June  28,  1866 ;  establishing  Fort  Philip 
Kearney  on  the  15th  of  July,  and  Fort  C.  F.  Smith 
on  the  3d  day  of  August ;  and  as  early  as  the  31st  of 
July  informed  General  P.  George  Cooke,  the  de 
partment  commandant,  that  the  status  of  the  Indians 
in  that  country  was  one  of  war,  and  requested  that  re- 
enforcements  should  be  sent  to  him.  Two  days  pre 
viously  he  had  telegraphed  to  the  adjutant-general  of 
the  army  for  Indian  auxiliaries,  and  an  additional 
force  of  his  own  regiment. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  General  Cooke,  commanding 
the  Department  of  the  Platte,  informed  Colonel  Car- 
rington  that  Lieutenant-General  Sherman  ordered  the 
posts  in  his  (Colonel  Carrington's)  district  supported 
as  much  as  possible,  and  announced  a  regiment  com 
ing  from  St.  Louis.  No  auxiliaries  were  assigned, 
and  no  re-enforcements  came  until  November,  when 
Company  C,  2d  United  States  Cavalry,  reached  Fort 
Kearney,  sixty  strong,  armed  with  Springfield  rifles 
and  star  carbines.  In  December,  about  ninety  re 
cruits  joined  the  battalion,  in  the  Mountain  District, 
a  portion  of  whom  were  assigned  to  Company  A,  sta 
tioned  at  Fort  Philip  Kearney.  No  other  re-enforce 
ments  were  sent  to  the  district. 

Approved  requisitions  for  ammunition  were  not 
answered.  The  command  at  Fort  C.  F.  Smith  was 
reduced  to  ten  rounds  per  man,  the  command  at  Fort 
Philip  Kearney  to  forty-five  rounds  per  man,  and  the 
command  at  Fort  Reno  to  thirty  rounds  per  man. 
Recruits  could  not  practise  any  in  firing. 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  167 

Little  time  could  be  allowed  from  fatigue  duty  for 
drill,  and,  with  but  twelve  officers  and  three  posts, 
little  could  have  been  done  in  instructing  recruits, 
even  if  time  could  have  been  allowed. 

The  result  of  all  this  was  that  the  troops  were  in  no 
condition  to  fight  successful  battles  with  Indians  or 
other  foes,  and  this  from  no  fault  of  Colonel  Carring- 
ton.  It  is  astonishing  with  what  zeal  they  fought, 
and  the  damage  they  inflicted  on  December  21st. 

The  numerous  demonstrations  and  attacks  made  by 
Indians  prior  to  the  6th  of  December,  seemed  to  have 
been  made  for  the  sole  purpose  of  capturing  stock, 
picket  posts,  and  small  parties  of  soldiers  who  might 
venture  beyond  the  cover  of  the  garrison,  and  of  annoy 
ing  and  checking  the  wood  train,  which  was  constantly 
drawing  material  for  the  new  forts. 

On  the  morning  of  December  6th,  the  wood  train 
was  attacked  —  a  common  occurrence  —  about  two 
mile's  from  the  fort,  and  forced  to  corral  and  defend 
itself.  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fetterman,  with  a 
command  of  seventeen  mounted  infantry  and  thirty- 
five  cavalry,  moved  out  to  relieve  the  wood  train  and 
to  drive  off  the  Indians.  Colonel  Carrington,  with 
twenty-five  mounted  infantry,  moved  out  for  the  pur 
pose  of  cutting  off  the  Indians  from  retreat  and 
destroying  them. 

On  this  day,  at  a  point  on  Reno  Creek  about  five 
miles  from  the  fort,  the  Indians,  the  second  time 
after  the  fort  was  established,  made  a  stand  and  strong 
resistance,  and  nearly  surrounded  Colonel  Fetterman  Js 


168       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

party.  The  infantry  obeyed  orders  and  behaved  we1: ; 
the  cavalry,  with  the  exception  of  ten  enlisted  men, 
disobeyed  the  orders  of  Colonel  Fetterman,  and  fled, 
with  the  greatest  precipitancy,  from  that  portion  of  the 
field. 

As  the  cavalry  retreated,  the  Indians  made  a  great 
display  and  every  effort  to  create  a  panic  with  the 
infantry;  but  Colonel  Fetterman,  Lieutenant  Wands, 
and  Lieutenant  Brown  succeeded  in  keeping  this 
small  body  of  infantry  cool,  and,  by  reserving  their 
fire  for  proper  range,  rescued  it  from  annihilation, 
effecting  a  junction  with  Colonel  Carrington's  party, 
on  the  east  side  of  Reno  Creek. 

Lieutenant  Bingham,  after  leaving  Colonel  Fetter- 
man's  party,  with  Lieutenant  Grummond,  a  sergeant 
from  Colonel  Carrington's  command,  and  two  men 
from  his  own,  without  the  knowledge  or  order  of  any 
of  his  superiors,  pursued  into  an  ambuscade,  more 
than  two  miles  from  the  main  party,  a  single  Indian, 
who  was  on  foot  just  in  front  of  their  horses,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Bingham  and  the  sergeant  were  there  killed. 

The  result  of  this  day's  fighting,  although  not  of  a 
decidedly  successful  character  to  the  Indians,  was  such 
as  naturally  to  induce  the  belief  on  their  part,  that  by 
proper  management  and  effort  they  could  overpower 
and  destroy  any  force  that  could  be  sent  out  of  the  fort 
to  fight  them :  no  doubt  at  this  time  they  resolved  to 
make  the  effort  on  the  first  auspicious  day,  postponing 
their  proceedings  from  the  new  to  the  full  of  the 
moon. 


OR;   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  169 

In  the  mean  time,  everything  was  quiet  about  the 
fort,  although  they  often  appeared  on  the  surrounding 
hills. 

On  the  morning  of  December  21st,  the  picket  at  the 
signal  station  signalled  to  the  fort  that  the  wood  train 
was  attacked  by  Indians  and  corralled,  and  the  escort 
fighting.  This  was  nearly  11  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  the 
train  was  about  two  miles  from  the  fort,  moving 
toward  the  timber 

Almost  immediately  a  few  Indian  pickets  appeared 
upon  one  or  two  of  the  surrounding  heights,  and  a 
party  of  about  twenty  near  the  Big  Piney,  where  the 
Montana  road  crosses  the  same,  within  howitzer  range 
of  the  fort.  Shells  were  thrown  among  them  from 
the  artillery  in  the  fort,  and  they  fled. 

A  detail  of  fifty  men  and  two  officers  from  the  four 
different  infantry  companies,  and  twenty-six  cavalry 
men  and  one  officer,  was  made  by  Colonel  Carrington. 

The  entire  force  formed  in  good  order,  and  was 
placed  under  the  command  of  Brevet  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Fetterman,  who  received  the  following  orders 
from  Colonel  Carrington:  "Support  the  wood  train, 
relieve  it,  and  report  to  me.  Do  not  engage  or  pursue 
at  its  expense;  under  no  circumstances  pursue  over 
Lodge-pole  Ridge." 

These  instructions  were  repeated  by  Colonel  Car 
rington  in  a  loud  voice,  to  the  command  when  in 
motion,  and  outside  the  fort,  and  again  delivered  in 
substance  by  Lieutenant  Wands,  officer  of  the  day,  to 
Lieutenant  Grummond,  commanding  cavalry  detach- 
16 


170  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

ment,  who  was  requested  to  deliver  them  to  Colonel 
Fetterman. 

Colonel  Fetterman  moved  out  rapidly  to  the  right 
of  the  wood  road,  for  the  purpose,  no  doubt,  of  cutting 
off  the  retreat  of  the  Indians  thus  attacking  the  train. 
As  he  advanced  across  the  Piney,  a  few  Indians 
appeared  in  his  front  and  on  his  flanks,  and  con 
tinued  flitting  about  him  beyond  rifle-range,  till  they 
disappeared  beyond  Lodge-pole  Ridge.  When  he  was 
on  Lodge-trail  Bridge,  the  picket  signalled  the  fort 
that  the  Indians  had  retreated  from  the  train ;  the 
latter  train  had  broken  corral  and  moved  toward  the 
timber ;  the  train  made  the  round  trip,  and  was  not 
again  disturbed  that  day.  At  about  fifteen  minutes 
before  twelve  o'clock,  Colonel  Fetterman's  command 
had  reached  the  crest  of  Lodge-trail  Ridge,  was  de 
ployed  as  skirmishers,  and  made  a  halt. 

Without  regard  to  orders,  for  reasons  that  the 
silence  of  Colonel  Fetterman  now  prevents  us  from 
giving,  he,  with  the  command,  in  a  few  moments 
disappeared,  having  cleared  the  ridge,  still  moving 
north. 

Firing  at  once  commenced,  and  increased  in  rapid 
ity  for  about  fifteen  minutes,  and  at  twelve  o'clock  M. 
there  was  a  continuous  and  rapid  fire  of  musketry  dis 
tinctly  heard  awhile  at  the  fort.  Assistant  Surgeon 
Hines,  having  been  ordered  to  join  Fetterman,  found 
Indians  on  a  part  of  Lodge-trail  Ridge  not  visible 
from  the  fort,  and  could  not  reach  the  force  struggling 
to  preserve  its  existence.  As  soon  as  the  firing 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG    THE   SIOUX.  171 

became  rapid,  Colonel  Carrington  ordered  Captain 
Ten  Eyck,  with  about  seventy-six  men,  being  all  the 
men  for  duty  in  the  fort,  and  two  wagons  with  ammu 
nition,  to  join  Colonel  Fetterman  immediately.  He 
moved  out  and  advanced  rapidly  toward  the  pcint 
from  which  the  sound  of  firing  proceeded,  but  did 
not  move  by  so  short  a  route  as  he  might  have  done. 
The  sound  of  firing  continued  to  be  lessening  during 
his  advance,  diminishing  in  rapidity  and  the  number 
of  shots  till  he  reached  a  high  summit  overlooking 
the  battle-field,  at  about  a  quarter  before  one  o'clock, 
when  one  or  two  shots  closed  all  sounds  of  conflict. 
"Whether  he  could  have  reached  the  scene  of  action,  by 
marching  over  the  shortest  route  as  quickly  as  possible, 
in  time  to  have  relieved  Colonel  Fetter  man's  com 
mand,  I  am  unable  to  determine. 

Immediately  after  Captain  Ten  Eyck  moved  out, 
and  by  orders  of  Colonel  Carrington,  issued  at  the 
same  time  as  the  order  detailing  that  officer  to  join 
Colonel  Fetterman,  the  quarter-master's  employees, 
convalescents,  and  all  others  in  garrison,  were  armed 
and  provided  with  ammunition,  being  held  in  readi 
ness  to  re-enforce  the  troops  fighting,  or  to  defend  the 
garrison. 

Captain  Ten  Eyck  reported,  as  soon  as  he  reached  a 
summit  commanding  a  view  of  the  battle-field,  that 
the  Reno  Valley  was  full  of  Indians ;  that  he  could 
see  nothing  of  Colonel  Fetterman's  party;  and  re 
quested  that  a  howitzer  should  be  sent  to  him.  The 
howitzer  was  not  sent.  The  Indians,  who,  at  first, 


172  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

beckoned  him  to  come  down,  now  commenced  re 
treating  ;  and  Captain  Ten  Eyck,  advancing  to  a  point 
where  the  Indians  had  been  standing  in  a  circle,  found 
the  dead,  naked  bodies  of  Brevet  Lt.  Colonel  Fetter- 
man,  Captain  Brown,  and  about  sixty-five  of  the 
soldiers  of  their  command.  At  this  point  there  were 
no  indications  of  a  severe  struggle.  All  the  bodies 
lay  in  a  space  not  exceeding  thirty-five  feet  in  diame 
ter.  No  empty  cartridge-shells  were  about,  and  there 
were  some  full  of  cartridges.  A  few  American  horses 
lay  dead  a  short  distance  off,  all  with  their  heads 
toward  the  fort.  This  spot  was  by  the  road-side,  be 
yond  the  summit  of  a  hill,  to  the  east  of  Reno  Creek. 
The  road,  after  rising  this  hill,  follows  the  ridge  for 
about  Jialf  or  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  then  descends 
abruptly  to  Reno  Creek.  At  about  half  the  distance 
from  where  these  bodies  lay  to  the  point  where  the 
road  commences  to  descend  to  Reno  Creek,  was  the 
dead  body  of  Lieutenant  Grummond ;  still  farther  on, 
at  the  point  where  the  road  commences  to  descend  to 
Reno  Creek,  were  the  remains  of  the  three  citizens 
and  four  or  five  of  the  old,  long-tried,  and  experi 
enced  soldiers.  A  great  number  of  empty  cartridge- 
shells  were  on  the  ground  at  this  point,  and  more  than 
fifty  lying  on  the  ground  about  one  of  the  dead  citi 
zens,  who  used  a  Henry  rifle.  Within  a  few  hun 
dred  yards,  in  front  of  this  position,  ten  Indian 
horses  lay  dead,  and  there  were  sixty-five  pools  of 
dark  and  clotted  blood.  No  Indian  ponies  or  pools 
of  blood  were  found  at  any  other  point.  Our 


OK,   LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  173 

conclusion,  therefore,  is  that  the  Indians  were  massed 
to  resist  Colonel  Fetterman's  advance  along  Reno 
Creek,  on  both  sides  of  the  road ;  that  Colonel  Fetter- 
man  formed  his  advance  lines  on  the  summit  of  the 
hill  overlooking  the  creek  and  valley,  with  a  reserve. 
Near  where  the  charge  was  made,  a  number  of  dead 
bodies  lay ;  that  the  Indians,  in  a  force  of  from  fifteen 
to  eighteen  hundred  warriors,  attacked  him  vigorously 
in  this  position,  and  were  successfully  resisted  by  him 
for  half  an  hour  or  more ;  that  the  command,  being 
then  short  of  ammunition,  were  seized  with  panic  at 
this  event,  and,  owing  to  the  great  numerical  superi 
ority  of  the  Indians,  attempted  to  retreat  toward  the 
fort ;  that  the  mountaineers  and  old  soldiers  that  had 
learned  that  a  movement  from  Indians  in  an  engage 
ment  is  equivalent  to  death,  remained  in  their  first 
position,  and  were  killed  there ;  that  immediately  upon 
the  commencement  of  the  retreat  the  Indians  charged 
upon  and  surrounded  the  party,  who  could  not  now 
be  formed  by  their  officers,  and  were  instantly  killed. 
Only  six  men  of  the  whole  command  were  killed  by 
balls,  and  two  of  these  —  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fetter- 
man  and  Captain  Brown  —  no  doubt,  inflicted  their 
death  upon  themselves,  or  each  other,  for  both  were 
shot  through  the  left  temple,  and  the  powder  was 
burned  into  the  skin  and  flesh  about  the  wounds. 
These  officers  had  often  asserted  that  they  would  not 
be  taken  alive  by  Indians. 

Military  posts  have  been  established  at  various  ap 
propriate  places  along  the  emigrant  roads,  the  North 
15* 


174  THE    CAPTUEE   AND    ESCAPE. 

and  South  Platte,  Missouri  and  other  rivers,  besides 
among  the  hills,  and  they  must  be  an  annual  expense 
to  the  United  States  Government  of  several  million 
dollars.  *  Some  of  those  forts  have  been  excellent 
places  of  trade  with  the  Indians,  but  military  restric 
tions,  in  favor  of  sutlers,  have  prevented  the  soldiers 
from  purchasing  of  other  merchants,  to  a  great  ex 
tent  ;  and  have  also  been  a  disadvantage  to  the  poor 
soldier,  who  left  his  home  to  defend  the  land  he  loved 
and  his  country's  honor.  The  fur-trade  has  dimin 
ished  since  the  war  of  the  plains,  which  deters  from 
friendly  intercourse. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SIOUX  HISTORY —  INDIAN  WOMEN  AND  CHILDKEN  —  SINGU 
LAR  SUPERSTITION  —  COPPER-RIVER  INDIANS  —  INDIAN 
BEAUTY  AND  DECORATIONS  — INDIAN  PAINTING  —  DISGUST 
ING  HABITS  —  SIGNS  AND  GESTURES. 

I  COMMENCE  the  chapter  of  customs  and  man 
ners  of  Indians  with  a  brief  account  of  the  Sioux 
tribe  or  family,  which  is  one  of  the  most  numerous 
and  powerful  Indian  nations  upon  the  North  American 
continent ;  occupying  all  the  vast  territory  lying 
between  the  head-wuters  of  the  Mississippi  River  and 
the  Rocky  Mountains  —  extending  from  the  Arkansas 
River  on  the  south,  to  the  shores  of  Lake  Winnepeg 
upon  the  north.  In  their  career  of  conquest  and  ex 
tension,  they  have  won  for  themselves  renown  in  war 
and  honor  in  peace;  their  history  is  scarcely  less 
heroic  than  the  Mohawks.  When  at  the  head  of  six 
nations,  their  proud  bearing  and  daring  intrepidity 
won  the  admiration  of  their  enemies,  and  insured 
their  prosperity  :  until  a  comparatively  short  period,  it 
had  been  their  boast  that  they  had  never  shed  the 
blood  of  a  white  man. 

The  term  Dakota  signifies  confederate.  The  nation, 
consisting  of  seven  united  tribes,  numbers  about  28,000, 
exclusive  of  8,000  Assinaboines,  who  live  west  of  Lake 

175 


176 

Winnepeg.  A  Sioux  Helen  caused  the  separation,  and 
the  fierce  encounter  over  this  dusky  beauty  agitated 
the  nation  to  its  centre,  and  their  feats  of  arms  rivalled 
in  daring  and  romance  the  Grecian  exploits  around  the 
walls  of  Troy. 

Ozalapaila,  the  beautiful  wife  of  a  noted  chief, 
having  fallen  in  love  with  another  equally  noted 
warrior,  suffered  herself  to  be  borne  away  by  the 
daring  chieftain  from  the  lodge  of  her  husband.  This 
was  the  cause  of  much  bloodshed  and  suffering.  Her 
husband  and  brothers  having  fallen  in  their  efforts  to 
recover  her,  the  tribe  took  up  the  quarrel  and  divided, 
involving  the  whole  nation  in  civil  war ;  after  a  long 
and  bloody  struggle,  the  seducer  and  his  warriors 
renounced  their  allegiance  to  the  confederacy,  and  with 
their  families  retired  to  the  north. 

The  divided  nation  has  ever  since  been  in  battle 
upon  the  neutral  grounds  between.  The  family  of 
the  Sioux  language  is  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi 
River  what  the  Algonquin  is  to  the  east  of  that 
stream.  Besides  many  affiliated  tribes,  the  Unapaws, 
Osage,  Kansas,  Omahaw,  Pawnees,  Iowa,  Ottoes, 
Missouri,  and  Winnebagoes,  the  Cheyennes,  Crows, 
Minnetarees,  Mandans,  and  Black  Feet,  all  belong  to 
this  nation. 

The  Dakotas  believe  in  a  spirit,  which  they  call 
"Wakkum  Tanka,  and  in  numerous  subordinate  spirits, 
among  whom  the  Wakkan  Shecha,  or  evil  spirit,  and 
the  Thunder  are  the  principal,  and  to  all  these  they 
make  offerings. 


OK,   LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  177 

These  Indians  have  always  been  free  from  canni 
balism.  They  live  chiefly  upon  the  prairies,  and  build 
their  lodges  of  buffalo-skins,  in  a  conical  form,  so  as 
to  permit  the  smoke  to  escape  from  the  top,  which  is 
left  open.  They  all  practise  polygamy,  and  have  the 
same  rude  notions  of  future  life.  In  a  limited  meas 
ure  some  of  them  cultivate  the  ground,  raising  small 
quantities  of  maize,  pumpkins,  beans,  squashes,  and 
occasionally  venturing  to  raise  a  few  potatoes.  Nearly 
all  use  the  dog  to  carry  burdens,  drag  teepa-poles,  etc. 
The  flesh  of  this  animal  is  considered  a  great  delicacy, 
a  dog-feast  being  regarded  as  a  distinguished  mark  of 
respect  to  a  stranger.  The  Winnebagoes  are  the  only 
tribe  of  the  Sioux  family  found  east  of  the  Mississippi 
River.  Tne7  stay  in  the  northern  part  of  Wisconsin, 
and  number  about  4,500  warriors. 

Indian  women,  although  subservient  in  many 
respects,  are  extremely  fond  of  their  children,  over 
whom  they  exercise  a  great  deal  of  authority,  as  the 
father  scarcely  ever  appears  to  notice  or  exercise  his 
prerogative,  leaving  the  care  and  control  entirely  in 
the  hands  of  his  wife  or  wives;  and  the  family  is 
known  by  the  name  of  the  wife,  and  not  of  the  hus 
band  as  is  the  case  with  us.  A  Sioux  mother  binds 
her  baby  upon  a  small  board,  wrapping  it  up,  and 
binding  around  it  long  strips  of  cloth,  leather,  or  bark, 
commencing  at  the  feet  and  extending  upward  until 
all  but  the  head  is  enveloped ;  and  it  is  only  relieved 
from  this  confined  position  for  a  few  minutes  at  a  time, 
at  long  intervals.  In  this  peculiar  costume  it  is  hung 

M 


178       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

upon  its  mother's  back  and  carried  by  her  wherever 
she  goes,  except  sometimes  in  her  movements  about 
the  camp,  when  it  is  hung  upon  a  projecting  limb  of 
a  tree,  or  inclined  upon  the  ground  against  the  teepa, 
a  rock,  or  a  tree,  thus  permitting  the  mother  to  attend 
to  her  domestic  duties.  Nor  is  it  an  inappropriate 
condition  for  the  child,  being  quite  convenient  for  the 
mother,  and  in  no  wise  distressing  or  painful  to  the 
infant,  which  is  in  this  way  protected  from  many  dan 
gerous  exposures  that  are  almost  unavoidable  in  a 
wandering  life.  Where  the  camp  occupies  the  place 
of  kitchen,  parlor,  bed-room,  dining-room,  dog-kennel, 
and  sometimes  stablejp  an  infant  would  be  very  much 
exposed  if  left  to  its  own  devices,  or  to  the  supervision 
of  other  children,  as  the  mother  busies  herself  about 
her  domestic  avocations.  These  consist  of  cooking, 
dressing  meat  for  present  and  future  use,  gathering 
fuel,  carrying  water,  erecting  the  lodges,  sewing,  tend 
ing  the  horses,  saddling  the  ponies  for  the  male  mem 
bers  of  the  family  to  ride,  and  assisting  her  husband  to 
dress  himself,  mount  his  horse,  etc.,  while  he  lounges 
around  and  smokes  his  pipe,  indifferent  to  the  cries 
of  his  offspring,  the  snarling  of  hungry  dogs  under  his 
feet,  and  the  heavy  burdens  his  poor  wife  is  laboring 
under,  considering  it  unmanly  to  contaminate  his 
hands  with  any  kind  of  menial  labor,  and  degrading 
to  his  character  as  a  man  to  thus  level  himself  to  the 
rank  of  a  woman.  The  women  practise  economy  in 
their  wardrobe  to  rather  an  unpleasant  extent,  in  not 
divesting  themselves  of  their  apparel  until  it  is  worn 


OR;    LIFE    AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  179 

out,  thus  avoiding  the  labor  of  disrobing,  and  of  wash 
ing  their  clothing. 

The  waist  and  feet  are  never  laced  to  diminish  the 
natural  growth;  but,  which  is  equally  as  injurious  to 
the  victim,  the  form  of  the  head  is,  with  some  of 
these  unenlightened  people,  a  matter  of  important  con 
sideration,  and  they  endeavor  to  compress  the  skull 
with  a  hard  substance  in  infancy.  The  Flat-heads 
consider  a  flat,  retreating  forehead  a  peculiar  mark  of 
dignity  and  extraordinary  beauty.  The  Sioux  In 
dians,  however,  do  not  attempt  to  change  the  form  of 
the  head  at  all :  it  is  left  free,  anchgenerally  uncovered, 
except  in  the  most  severe  weather. 

A  Sioux  woman  dare  not  approach  her  husband 
after  the  birth  of  a  child  until  four  weeks  have  tran 
spired,  when  the  father  sees  his  offspring  for  the  first 
time.  The  male  children  are  regarded  with  a  great 
deal  more  interest,  by  all  Indians,  than  the  female, 
and  are  always  treated  with  more  consideration  and 
kindness.  A  boy,  like  his  father,  must  never  be 
contaminated  by  drudgery  of  any  kind.  To  see  him 
lift  a  teepa-pole  will  cause  his  mother  to  lament 
and  wail  aloud,  for  she,  poor  thing,  is  quite  as  anxious 
to  preserve  his  supremacy  in  this  respect  as  his 
father. 

A  step-father  claims  no  authority  over  the  children 
of  his  wife  by  a  former  marriage,  and  punishment  of 
children  by  any  sort  of  severity  is  extremely  rare,  if 
it  exists  at  all ;  yet  for  the  violation  of  some  of  their 
superstitious  rules  they  punish  even  with  death. 


180       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

When  the  child  is  old  enough  to  run  alone  it  is 
relieved  of  its  swathings,  and,  if  the  weather  is  not  too 
cold,  it  is  sent  off  without  a  particle  of  clothing  to 
protect  it  or  impede  the  actions  of  its  limbs,  and,  in 
this  manner,  is  allowed  to  remain  until  it  is  twelve 
years  old,  when  it  receives  one  garment.  The  Indian 
wToman  has  some  strange  ideas  with  regard  to  polite 
ness.  She  will  never  pass  in  front  of  a  sachem  or 
walk  before  him  in  a  path,  and  will  not  eat  out  of  the 
same  dish  with  a  man  that  is  engaged  in  war,  for  it 
would  degrade  the  brave  to  the  level  of  a  woman. 

Great  aversion  is  expressed  by  the  female  at  finding 
hairs  in  the  comb  when  she  smooths  her  jetty  locks ; 
and  lest  some  misfortune  befall  the  finder,  the  loose 
hairs  are  carefully  disposed  of. 

An  Indian  woman  cannot  be  induced  to  cover  her 
head.  Even  when  removed  f**om  her  savage  life,  she 
obstinately  adheres  to  her  former  custom,  and  goes 
bareheaded.  If  a  squaw  wishes  to  climb  to  a  higher 
part  of  the  teepa  than  she  can  reach,  a  friendly  fellow- 
wife  or  sister  or  daughter  crouches  upon  the  ground 
upon  her  hands  and  knees,  offering  her  back  for  an 
elevator,  which  tender  is  both  obliging  and  convenient. 

An  Indian  woman  has  no  rights  in  her  own  person, 
her  husband  and  father  being  at  liberty  to  dispose  of 
her  as  their  convenience  dictates.  Thus  the  hunters 
and  trappers  of  the  mountains  are  provided  with 
wives,  though  the  father,  in  selling  a  daughter,  does 
not  seem  to  relinquish  his  claim  entirely. 

Although  these  women  are  purchased  at  a  stipu- 


OB,    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  181 

lated  consideration,  it  is  no  doubt  a  fertile  source  of 
mischief  and  trouble  to  the  frontier  people,  as  the 
women  become  fondly  attached  to  their  husbands,  and 
naturally  feel  unwilling  to  be  abandoned  at  their  will 
and  convenience,  and  left  to  poverty  and  neglect,  when 
her  only  resource  is  to  return,  with  her  children,  to 
the  hospitality  of  her  friends ;  but,  be  it  said  to  the 
honor  of  that  people,  their  hospitality  is  never  refused 
to  one  of  these  unfortunate  creatures. 

Polygamy  being  believed  in,  and  practised  without 
restriction  save  by  the  will  of  the  husband,  and  each 
wife  being  an  additional  honor  to  her  husband  —  the 
women  usually  marry  young  —  the  husband  holds  his 
wives  completely  at  his  own  mercy,  even  to  the  dis 
posal  of  their  lives ;  but  with  the  savage,  as  well  as 
with  men  of  civilized  and  enlightened  habits,  great 
differences  exist  with  individuals,  and  the  condition  of 
the  women  varies  from  comparative  comfort  to  abject 
slavery  and  degradation. 

Although  the  males  regard  themselves  as  Infinitely 
superior  to  their  females,  they  entertain  and  display  a 
sort  of  respect  to  their  wives,  particularly  toward  the 
senior  one,  who  is  usually  considered  the  ruler  in  the 
family,  and  generally  exerts  absolute  authority  over 
her  associates  in  the  teepa.  Of  course  in  this  the  hus 
band  is  always  excepted,  he  being  supreme  ruler  over 
every  member  of  the  household. 

The  Sioux  women,  though  slaves  to  their  lords,  are 
not  quite  as  badly  treated  as  their  sisters  on  the  Cop 
permine  River,  in  British  America,  who  are  consid- 
16 


182  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

ered  only  property,  and  are  subjected  to  most  ex 
tremely  brutal  treatment,  being  used  as  beasts  of  bur 
den,  drawing  loads,  while  their  husbands  and  sons 
drive  with  whips,  and  urge  the  wife  or  mother  onward 
with  frequent  applications  of  the  lash. 

These  Indians,  not  having  horses  nor  many  dogs, 
make  their  women  conveniently  useful,  and  they  are 
considered  a  source  of  wealth  —  the  husband  being 
limited  in  number  only  as  regards  his  will  and  bodily 
strength  —  a  man  being  at  liberty  to  take  the  wife  of 
any  man  that  he  can  throw  down ;  for  whosoever  can 
overcome  another  in  wrestling,  may  at  once  seize  his 
wife  and  retain  her  for  his  own,  unless  the  former  hus 
band  can  succeed  in  throwing  him  down.  A  stout 
wrestler  thus  obtains  a  great  many  wives,  whom  he 
sometimes  scantily  provides  for  with  food,  and  often 
times  allows  those  poor  creatures  to  die  of  starvation, 
while  he  depends  upon  procuring  a  new  supply  when 
the  times  are  better,  by  exhibiting  his  muscular  power 
among  Ifis  companions  not  so  well  skilled  in  the  art 
of  wrestling. 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  beauty  of  Indian  women, 
but  observation  persuades  me  that  such  tribute  is  an 
error.  If  the  current  versions  of  the  poet  and  painter 
be  true,  some  blighting  phenomenon  had  previously 
occurred  in  every  instance  that  I  saw. 

Their  forms  are  sometimes  good,  but  their  hands 
are  large.  Their  feet  are  usually  small,  and  their 
coarse,  black  hair  luxuriant;  but  such  lives  of  expo- 


OK,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  185 

sure,  drudgery,  and  abuse  would  mar  the  beauty  of  a 
Venus. 

Some  of  them  exhibit  taste  and  skill  in  fancy  work, 
producing  some  curious,  if  not  pretty,  ornaments. 
They  are  particularly  skilled  in  the  art  of  contriving 
beads  tastefully,  and  some  of  their  decorations  in  this 
line  are  truly  a  marvel  of  originality  and  design. 
They  also  attempt  the  art  of  painting,  and  display 
upon  their  teepas  and  buffalo-robes  some  designs  in 
colors. 

I  saw  in  the  hands  of  a  mountaineer  a  picture  of  a 
woman  and  little  boy,  who,  endeavoring  to  escape 
from  an  Indian  camp,  are  being  overtaken  and  mur 
dered.  The  design  was  grotesque,  and  the  coloring 
fearfully  exaggerated,  but  it  proved  their  unwilling 
ness  to  acknowledge,  even  to  themselves,  that  a  pris 
oner  had  escaped. 

It  seems  to  be  a  stretch  of  imagination  to  represent 
an  Indian  woman  as  an  artist,  when  we  contemplate 
her  surroundings,  recalling  all  her  unsightliness  — 
a  creature  who  chops  wood,  carries  water,  brings  home 
game,  skins  animals,,  dresses  hides,  attends  horses, 
secures  the  pony  for  her  husband  to  ride,  assists  him 
to  mount,  and  then  trudges  after  him  on  foot,  carrying 
her  youngest  child  on  her  back  —  finally,  beaten,  cuffed 
and  kicked  to  complete  her  degradation.  It  might 
be  almost  concluded  that  something  by  way  of  re 
form  might  be  done  for  those  unfortunate  sisters  of 
our  own  continent.  It  is  believed  that  the  Indian 
can  never  be  enslaved,  yet  the  Indian  woman  is 


184:  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

already  a  slave  of  the  worst  kind,  held  by  ignorance 
and  love.  Still,  those  unfortunate  squaws,  unlovely 
though  they  appear,  have  gleams  of  womanly  kind 
ness,  dull  and  perverted,  doubtless;  but,  however 
small,  the  Promethean  spark  glitters  through  the 
ashes  of  their  lives.  Their  ideas  of  adornment  are  so 
much  at  variance  with  our  standard  of  beauty,  that  a 
fully-painted  squaw  is  a  hideous  monstrosity,  instead 
of  being  the  beautiful,  attractive  creature  she  supposes 
herself  to  be. 

The  countenance  is  variously  marked  with  grease 
and  paint.  Sometimes  the  nose  blooms  with  the  hue 
of  vermilion,  the  cheeks  presenting  a  motley  appear 
ance,  with  black  and  green  alternately  in  stripes,  a 
star  tattooed  upon  the  forehead,  and,  to  complete  the 
grotesque  effect,  a  circle  of  yellow  drawn  around  each 
eye,  which  is  considered  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  beauty 
in  the  toilet  of  a  Sioux  damsel,  in  which  adornment 
she  does  not  excel  her  brother.  Not  forgetting  the 
jewelry,  which  is  also  an  important  addition  to  the 
general  appearance,  holes  are  cut  in  the  rims  of  the 
ear,  causing  that  useful  organ  to  present  an  extremely 
uncomely  appearance.  Some  of  these  apertures  are 
so  large  that  a  finger  can  be  thrust  through,  and  they 
are  filled  with  bits  and  rings  of  brass-wire,  pieces  of 
strings  of  cloth,  leather,  bones,  etc.  In  the  selection 
of  jewelry,  they  are  not  governed  by  fashion,  but 
each  procures  such  as  their  fancy  dictates  and  oppor 
tunity  presents  in  their  rambles  or  desultory  trade. 

Indians  of  both  sexes  wear  similar  blankets  and 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  18S 

furs.  It  is  quite  difficult  for  a  stranger  to  determine 
whether  they  are  men  or  women,  especially  on  horse 
back,  as  they  all  sit  upon  the  saddle  in  the  same 
way;  but  a  person  acquainted  with  their  customs  will 
distinguish  the  women  at  a  glance,  by  their  more 
miserable  appearance  and  lower  stature.  They  wear 
the  hair  long,  yet  the  Osage  brave  wears  almost  no 
hair  at  all  —  shaving  the  head  close  to  the  skull,  leav 
ing,  however,  a  small  remnant. 

The  men  are  usually  tall  and  well  formed,  while 
the  female  is  of  lower  stature,  and  often  bent  with  the 
weight  of  the  heavy  burdens  she  has  been  compelled 
to  carry. 

Many  of  their  faults  are  common  to  both  sexes  — 
theft,  vanity,  laziness,  drunkenness,  and  cruelty  are 
predominant.  Circumstances  restrain  some  of  these 
vices  in  the  female,  and  nature  adds  her  palliation  to 
others.  The  female,  in  many  respects,  is  her  hus 
band's  superior. 

The  squaw  must  work,  and  all  manner  of  labor  is 
performed  by  her,  except  hunting,  and  fighting  in  open 
war,  which,  being  considered  a  pleasure,  she  is  in  gen 
eral  denied.  They  all  have  a  great  fondness  for  spirit 
uous  liquors,  and  indulge  freely  when  an  opportunity 
presents  itself;  but,  by  a  policy  of  the  Government, 
their  opportunities  for  indulging  in  that  article  are 
limited. 

Indian  women  are  sometimes  kind  and  compassion 
ate.  Historians  tell  of  several  important  instances 
where  prisoners  owed  their  thanks  to  Indian  women 
16* 


186  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE; 

for  kind  endeavors  on  their  behalf;  yet,  to  all  appear 
ances,  she  delights  at  times  in  bloodshed,  like  her  hus 
band,  and  will  fight  almost  as  fiercely  when  aroused 
to  anger  or  in  defence.  There  are  not  wanting 
instances  where  she  has  used  the  war-club  and  the 
tomahawk,  defending  her  children  and  her  honor  with 
the  fury  of  a  lioness. 

Scalping  is  also  a  pleasure  when  an  enemy's  head 
comes  under  her  avenging  hand,  and  the  glory  reaped 
by  the  bloody  act  is  added  to  the  list  of  her  husband's 
achievements,  when  she  will  enter  the  circle  of  the 
scalp-dance,  holding  aloft  the  bloody  trophy  with  evi 
dent  satisfaction. 

It  is  an  interesting  sight  to  the  lovers  of  nature  to 
see  an  Indian  family  moving.  The  men  are  all  saun 
tering  around,  apparently  evincing  no  interest  what 
ever,  or  reclining  upon  their  furs,  in  quiet  repose, 
without  offering  to  assist  the  over-burdened  women,-  as 
they,  poor  souls,  hasten  to  and  fro,  dragging  down  the 
lodge-poles,  wrapping  the  tent  into  a  compact  bundle, 
loading  the  dogs  and  horses,  packing  up  the  cooking 
utensils,  rolling  the  bedding  into  bundles,  and,  at  last, 
when  all  is  completed,  they  taking  their  places  upon 
the  poorest  and  meanest  ponies,  leaving  their  idle 
lords  to  mount  the  best,  and,  surrounded  with  children, 
dogs,  bundles,  and  pouches,  jog  on,  dirty,  slavish,  and 
squalid,  and,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  contented. 

The  lodges  are  made  of  buffalo-skins,  sewed  together 
with  sinews,  in  the  shape  of  the  Sibley  tent  used  by  sol 
diers.  Indeed,  it  is  said  that  the  idea  of  the  Sibley 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  187 

tent  was  suggested  by  the  Indian  teepa,  and  was 
recommended  to  the  notice  of  the  military  authorities. 
These  Indian  teepas  are-variously  ornamented,  in  pro 
portion  to  the  owner's  taste  and  his  position  in  the 
tribe.  Every  variety  of  colored  paint  is  used  in  these 
decorations,  and  bead-work,  porcupine  quills,  etc. 
Scalp-locks  are  portrayed  upon  it,  indicating  the  num 
ber  which  the  owner  has  secured.  These  lodges  are 
constructed  so  as  to  be  easily  taken  down  when  it  is 
desirable  to  transport  them  to  another  place.  They 
are  the  red  man's  home,  and  are  warmer  and  more 
convenient  than  would  be  supposed.  The  fire  being 
built  in  the  centre,  the  smoke  passes  out  through  the 
aperture  in  the  top  which  is  made  for  that  purpose. 
They  are  tolerably  free  from  vermin,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  lice,  which  belong  to  an  Indian  as  unmistaka 
bly  as  does  his  swarthy  color,  and  are  as  inalienable  a 
right.  Nor  do  they  allow  this  seeming  pest  to  be 
unprofitable,  but  substitute  the  little  creatures  for  ber 
ries,  and  affirm  that  they  are  good  food. 

The  ease  with  which  a  tent  and  its  appointments 
can  be  packed  is  an  advantage  to  their  owners ;  for, 
except  in  the  vicinity  of  forts,  they  are  constantly 
in  motion,  never  remaining  more  than  a  few  weeks  in 
the  same  place,  as  the  Indians  are  compelled  to  follow 
the  game  for  their  own  subsistence,  and  pastures  for 
their  herds.  Possibly  this  is  the  reason  they  have  no 
furniture.  They  make  their  beds  upon  the  ground, 
and  recline  upon  furs  at  their  meals,  where  those  of 
the  same  rank  help  themselves  from  the  same  dish, 


188  THE    CAPTURE    AND    ESCAPE; 

using  their  fingers  in  place  of  forks.  Dishes  are  more 
common  than  they  formerly  were,  as  opportunities  for 
procuring  them  are  greater  —  the  emigrant  trains  fur 
nishing  some,  and  traders  of  the  country  keep  a  good 
supply  for  sale.  Formerly  they  carved  spoons,  bowls, 
etc.,  from  roots,  which  was  rather  tedious  work  with 
their  limited  supply  of  tools.  The  buffalo-horn  is 
still  a  common  cup.  Their  arrangements  at  meals  are 
extremely  unprepossessing,  and  in  no  position  does  an 
Indian  appear  to  a  greater  disadvantage  than  when 
considered  in  connection  with  eating.  The  savages 
appear  to  be  utterly  devoid  of  the  delicate  instincts  of 
appetite  that  distinguish  humanity  from  the  brute 
creation.  They  consume  with  great  relish  every  part 
of  an  animal,  nor  do  they  care  whether  it  be  cooked  or 
raw.  They  will  even  eat  carcasses  of  animals  that 
have  lain  dead  upon  the  hills  until  the  first  stages  of 
putrefaction  have  appeared,  and  they  roast  small  game 
without  freeing  it  of  the  entrails.  Being  very  fond  of 
milk,  they  will  not  hesitate  to  procure  it  from  dogs. 
There  are  few  animals  that  the  Indian  rejects  from  his 
table.  In  this  he  fulfils  the  declaration :  "  Every 
creature  of  God  is  good,  and  nothing  to  be  refused." 
It  has  been  said  that  Indians  will  not  eat  the  flesh  of 
wolves,  crows,  and  vultures,  believing  the  former  to 
be  descendants  of  their  forefathers7  dogs,  and,  conse 
quently,  held  in  respect ;  but  this  is  a  mistaken  idea. 
The  wolf  is  not  good  food,  being  too  tough  and 
sinewy  to  eat;  yet,  when  no  other  game  can  be  procured, 
this  animal  is  eaten,  as  is  also  the  crow  and  vulture, 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  189 

whose  flesh  is  usually  rejected  for  the  same  reason  as 
is  that  of  the  wolf. 

"No  use  is  made  of  salt,  it  being  incovenient  to  pro 
cure;  and  they  being  accustomed  to  fresh  victuals,  do 
not  esteem  it  highly,  believing,  too,  that  salt  has  an 
injurious  effect  upon  the  lungs. 

Indians  dry  their  meat  in  the  sun,  or  over  a  fire, 
and,  owing  to  the  purity  of  the  atmosphere,  it  will 
remain  without  taint,  being  quite  palatable.  The 
Indians'  delicacies  are  few,  and  their  wants,  which  are 
not  many,  are  scantily  supplied.  As  a  general  thing, 
they  are  hospitably  inclined.  Indeed,  in  the  intervals 
of  war,  nothing  but  feasting  and  dancing  is  thought 
of,  and  guests  are  received  and  entertained  in  turn  at 
the  different  lodges,  with  many  evidences  of  friend 
ship  and  esteem.  It  is  customary,  on  entering  a 
friendly  lodge,  to  carry  something  in  the  hand,  if  it 
should  be  but  a  little  bark  or  a  pebble.  Presents  of 
all  kinds,  from  the  most  trifling  up  to  those  of  value, 
are  made  a  peculiar  mode  of  expressing  friendship. 
Signs  and  gestures  are  much  used,  and  express  great 
meaning.  In  this  peculiarity,  Indians  excel  all  other 
people;  and  such  is  the  simplicity  of  their  signs  that 
they  are  easily  learned  by  all  who  traverse  the  country 
and  make  the  Indian's  acquaintance.  These  signs 
might  be  styled  the  language  of  the  plains,  for  the 
same  gestures  are  used  by  all  the  tribes,  and,  though 
their  language  is  different,  they  find  no  difficulty  in 
conversing  intelligibly. 

The  Sioux,  by  constantly  mingling  with  the  Cana- 


130       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE. 

clian  French,  who  have  settled  among  them  for  the 
purpose  of  trade,  have  learned  to  jabber  a  dialect 
that  bears  some  resemblance  to  that  language.  They 
usually  hesitate  to  attempt  the  English  tongue. 

From  those  settlers  and  merchants  the  Indians  pro 
cure  hatchets,  knives,  guns,  revolvers,  etc.  They  also 
barter  with  traders  in  British  America,  and  to  them 
sell  the  American  horses  and  mules  they  steal  from 
the  emigrant  trains  as  they  are  crossing  the  plains. 
Nor  do  they  hesitate  to  drive  off  stock  from  the  Gov 
ernment  posts,  from  the  immediate  presence  of  the 
officers  and  soldiers,  who  seldom  undertake  to  chas 
tise  the  daring  marauders,  who  have  learned,  in  the 
many  years  of  their  experience,  to  disregard  the  mili 
tary  arm  of  the  United  States. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

INDIAN  VILLAGE  UPON  THE  MOVE  —  DOGS  MADE  USEFUL  — 
EDUCATING  OF  THE  YOUTH  —  INDIAN  MANNERS  —  SEVERE 
ORDEAL  —  INDIAN  COURTSHIP  —  MURDER  OF  AN  INDIAN 
GIRL  —  AN  INDIAN  WIFE  —  SCALP  DANCE. 

THE  Sioux  Indians,  like  other  nomadic,  people,  are 
constantly  changing  their  camps,  for  causes  given 
above.  The  manner  in  which  they  perform  these  mi 
grations  is  both  singular  and  amusing.  The  appoint 
ment  of.  the  time  is  generally  left  to  the  chief  of  the 
highest  rank,  who  intimates  the  hour  of  departure  by 
sending  criers  through  the  village  announcing  his 
determination  to  move,  and  the  hour  at  which  he  de 
sires  them  to  start ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  he  places  his 
signal,  which  is  .upon  his  lance,  on  the  ground,  by  his 
teepa,  and  by  the  side  of  it  is  his  shield  and  bow. 

The  whole  village  is  soon  in  commotion  —  children 
screaming  or  laughing;  dogs  barking  and  frisking; 
squaws  running  hither  and  thither,  pulling  down  teepa- 
poles,  packing  up  everything,  and  loading  horses  and 
dogs  with  huge  burdens.  The  small  children  are  placed 
in  sacks  and  hung  upon  saddles  or  their  mothers'  backs. 
The  usual  order  of  arrangement  is  as  follows :  The 
horses  and  dogs  are  harnessed  to  trails ;  the  poles  of 
a  lodge  being  divided  into  two  bundles  or  bunches, 

191 


192  THE    CAPTUEE   AND   ESCAPE; 

the  small  end  of  each  is  fastened  upon  the  shoulders 
or  saddle  of  a  horse,  while  the  other  end  is  left  to 
drag  upon  the  ground,  on  either  side;  a  cross-piece, 
connecting  the  poles  and  keeping  them  in  their  proper 
position,  is  attached  just  behind  the  horse ;  on  these 
are  placed  the  wrapped-up  lodge,  which  is  secured  by 
thongs,  together  with  sundry  other  articles  of  the 
household,  and  upon  these  are  seated  women  and 
children.  To  guide  the  horse,  a  woman  goes  before, 
holding  the  bridle,  carrying  on  her  shoulders  a  load 
of  plunder  nearly  as  large  as  the  horse  carries  upon 
his  back.  Women  and  children  are  sometimes 
mounted  upon  horses,  holding  in  their  arms  every 
variety  of  plunder  —  sometimes  little  dogs,  or  other 
forlorn  pets.  In  this  unsightly  manner,  sometime? 
twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  families  are  transported 
several  miles  at  the  same  migration,  and,  all  being  in 
motion  at. the  same  time,  the  cavalcade  extends  for  a 
great  distance. 

The  men,  however,  are  not  so  unsightly  in  their 
appearance,  being  mounted  upon  good  horses,  and 
riding  in  groups,  leaving  the  women  and  children  to 
trudge  along  with  the  burdened  horses  and  dogs. 
The  number  and  utility  of  these  canine  assistants  is 
sometimes  astonishing,  as  they  count  hundreds,  each 
bearing  a  portion  of  the  general  burden.  Two  poles 
of  about  twelve  feet  long  are  attached  to  the  shoulders 
of  a  dog,  leaving  one  end  of  each  dragging  upon  the 
ground.  On  these  poles  a  small  burden  is  carried,  and 
with  it  the  faithful  animal  jogs  along,  looking  neither 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  193 

to  the  right  nor  to  the  left,  but  apparently  intent 
upon  reaching  the  end  of  their  journey. 

These  faithful  creatures  are  under  the  charge  of 
squaws,  and  their  pace  is  occasionally  encouraged  with 
admonitions  in  the  form  of  vigorous  and  zealous  use 
of  willow  twigs  applied  to  their  limbs  and  sides.  It 
is  quite  amusing  to  see  these  poor  animals,  thus  taken 
from  their  natural  avocation  and  reduced  to  a  life  of 
labor,  travel  along  with  their  burdens ;  yet,  when  this 
change  has  been  made,  they  become  worthless  as  hunt 
ers  or  \vatchers,  and  even  for  the  purpose  of  barking, 
being  reduced,  instead,  to  beasts  of  burden.  Here  a 
great,  slender  hound  moodily  jogs  along,  with  a  fry 
ing-pan  on  one  side  and  an  impatient  child  on  the 
other,  while  his  companion  sulks  along  with  its  own 
puppies  suspended  in  a  basket,  and  a  nest  of  young 
ravens  hung  upon  the  other  side.  A  wolfish-looking 
fellow  toils  on,  supporting  upon  his  back  a  piece  of 
an  antelope,  buffalo,  or  deer,  and  is  followed  by  an 
urchin  or  an  old  squaw,  who  keeps  at  bay  all  refrac 
tory  companions,  stimulating  the  memory  of  the  loaded 
dogs  with  an  occasional  reminder  of  her  presence  and 
supremacy. 

Though  the  Indians  sail  about  in  their  canoes,  they 
are  exclusively  an  inland  people,  and  aspire  to  no 
larger  boats  than  those  which  may  be  easily  paddled 
with  the  hands.  These  little  boats  are  made  of  wood, 
of  an  oblong  shape,  as  all  readers  know ;  but  the 
squaws  have  still  another  boat,  which  suits  their  con 
venience.  It  is  made  of  buffalo-skins,  is  almost  round, 

17  N 


Itt 

and  so  light  as  to  be  easily  transported  upon  the  head, 
when  they  much  resemble  in  appearance  an  immense 
black  kettle  turned  over  and  put  in  motion ;  yet  these 
small  skiffs  are  so  constructed  as  to  be  fitted  to  trans 
port  two  persons  at  the  same  time. 

The  boys  are  early  taught  the  arts  of  war.  A  bow 
and  arrows  are  among  the  first  presents  that  an  In 
dian  youth  receives  from  his  parents,  and  he  is  soon 
instructed  in  their  use.  Indeed,  the  skill  of  a  hunter 
seems  to  be  a  natural  endowment,  and,  although  some 
are  more  accurate  and  active  than  others,  they  all 
shoot  with  wonderful  precision  and  surprising  aptitude, 
seeming  to  inherit  a  passionate  love  for  the  sports  of 
the  chase. 

The  Indian  boy  receives  no  name  until  some  dis 
tinguishing  trait  of  character  suggests  one,  which  is 
adopted,  and  he  retains  it  until  some  other  exploit  or 
feature  of  character  make  a  change  necessary.  He  is 
known  among  white  people  by  the  literal  translation 
of  his  name,  as,  for  example :  The  man  that  stood  in 
the  water,  The  man  who  is  afraid  of  his  horses,  Little 
Dog,  Big  Mouth,  Red  Cloud,  Black  Hawk,  Red 
Jacket,  etc.  The  girls  are  named  from  some  supposed 
beauty,  or  uncomeliness,  or  trait  of  character,  for 
example:  Morning  Star,  White  Princess,  Drooping 
Flower,  Bluebird,  etc. 

One  of  the  strongest  superstitions  entertained  by  the 
Indian  is  the  belief  of  an  injurious  effect  to  a  boy 
that  happens  to  be  stepped  over,  and  he  will  punish 
with  great  severity  any  one  guilty  of  the  act,  consider- 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  195 

ing  such  a  movement  blighting  to  his  future  growth, 
and  impairing  his  strength  and  courage.  Prisoners 
have  sometimes  offended  in  this  way,  and  suffered 
death  for  their  carelessness.  Strange  to  say,  the  same 
superstitious  idea  does  not  extend  to  girls.  The  boys 
are  taught  many  athletic  sports,  in  which  the  youth 
ful  braves  sometimes  become  excited  to  such  an  extent 
as  to  forget  themselves  and  commit  deeds  of  violence 
in  the  impetuosity  of  their  feelings  of  jealousy  at 
being  outdone  by  opponents. 

One  mode  of  exhibiting  courage  is  remarkably  pain 
ful.  It  is  done  to  prove  the  worthiness  of  an  aspirant 
to  some  honorable  position  —  possibly  that  of  chief, 
or  medicine-man.  The  brave  makes  a  deep  incision 
with  a.  knife  in  the  flesh  and  muscles  of  his  chest. 
Into  the  wound  thus  formed  he  presses  a  short,  stout 
stick,  attached  to  the  ends  of  which  are  two  strong 
cords.  These  are  secured  to  a  tree  or  some  other  solid 
object.  The  \vood  being  firmly  fixed  in  the  body,  the 
aspirant  uses  his  strength,  in  a  backward  pull,  to  drag 
it  out  by  force.  If  he  fails  in  the  ordeal,  he  is  dis 
graced  by  his  want  of  endurance,  and  the  position  he 
sought  for  is  not  gained.  Unless  he  can,  on  the  second 
attempt,  command  more  endurance,  and  accomplish 
the  unnatural  act,  the  position  will  be  offered  to  an 
other,  whose  fortitude  may  be  sufficient  to  bear  the 
torture. 

The  youths  are  very  much  addicted  to  war.  They 
have  no  other  ambition,  and  pant  for  the  glory  of 
battle,  longing  for  the  notes  of  the  war-song,  that 


196  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

they  may  rush  in  and  win  the  feathers  of  a  brave. 
This  distinguishing  mark  is  only  worn  by  those  who 
have  struck  an  enemy's  body.  They  listen  to  the 
tales  of  the  old  men,  as  they  recall  the  stirring  scenes 
of  their  youth,  or  sing  their  death-songs,  which  form 
only  a  boasting  recapitulation  of  their  daring  and 
bravery.  They  yearn  for  the  glory  of  war,  which  is 
the  only  path  to  distinction  among  a  people  who  have 
no  arts  or  industrial  pursuits. 

When  a  young  man  goes  courting,  he  decorates 
himself  out  in  his  best  attire,  instinctively  divining 
that  appearances  weigh  much  in  the  eyes  of  a  forest 
belle.  The  young  maiden  receives  him  bashfully  — 
for  a  certain  kind  of  modesty  is  inherent  in  Indian 
girls,  which  is  rather  incongruous  when  considered  in 
connection  with  their  peculiar  mode  of  life — discre 
tion  and  propriety  are  carefully  observed,  and  the 
lovers  sit  side  by  side  in  silence,  he  occasionally  pro 
ducing  presents  for  her  acceptance.  These  express  a 
variety  of  sentiment,  and  refer  to  distinct  and  sepa 
rate  things,  some  signifying  love,  some  friendship; 
others  allude  to  the  life  of  servitude  she  is  expected 
to  live,  if  she  becomes  his  wife.  If  they  are  accepted 
graciously,  and  the  maiden  remains  seated,  it  is  con 
sidered  equivalent  to  an  assurance  of  love  on  her 
part,  and  is  acted  upon  accordingly.  Although  no 
woman's  situation  is  made  less  slavish  by  the  marriage 
connection,  and  no  one  is  treated  with  due  respect,  it  is 
scarcely  known  in  Indian  life  that  a  girl  has  remained 
single  even  to  middle  age  —  which,  by  the  way,  is  not 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  197 

a  surprising  truth,  when  we  look  back  one  century 
upon  our  own  race,  and  consider,  in  all  its  connec 
tions,  the  position  of  the  white  woman. 

When  an  attachment  has  progressed  very  far,  the 
lovers  will  each  comb  the  other's  jetty  locks,  and 
compliment  their  beauty ;  but  this  is  when  marriage 
is  contemplated,  and  the  preliminaries  are  arranged. 
Except  when  contaminated  with  civilized  influences 
by  association  and  example,  the  Indians  respect  deco 
rum,  and  marriage  is  regarded  an  honorable  institu 
tion  ;  and  such  is  their  horror  of  unchaste  conduct, 
that  death  has  not  unfrequently  been  the  penalty. 
An  incident  of  that  kind  was  related  by  an  eye 
witness  : 

A  young  girl  was  tried  for  unchaste  conduct,  and 
found  guilty,  and  was  condemned  to  suffer  death. 
She  was  taken  to  a  spot  beyond  the  village,  and,  in 
the  presence  of  the  band,  executed.  Her  seducer 
chanted  her  death-song,  as  she  came  calmly  forward, 
and  knelt  down  in  the  centre  of  the  circle,  and  covered 
her  head.  While  the  song  and  the  noise  of  a  drum 
sounded  loudly,  a  warrior  silently  approached  the 
kneeling  figure,  and  gave  one  rapid  stroke  of  his  tom 
ahawk.  She  sank  at  his  feet  upon  the  ground.  "  It 
is  better  for  her  to  die,  and  go  to  the  happy  hunting- 
grounds,"  they  said,  "  than  to  live  a  life  of  dishonor 
and  shame  among  her  own  people." 

Their  reverence  for  the  marriage  ceremony  is  illus 
trated  in  the  following  story  : 

A  gentleman,  who  was  a  commissioned  officer  of 
17* 


198  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

the  Iowa  volunteers,  fell  in  love  with  an  Indian  girl, 
and  desired  to  make  her  his  wife  — -  not  by  the  Indian 
custom,  but  according  to  the  laws  of  the  land.  This 
girl,  who  lived  among  the  hills,  and  had  never  visited 
a  fort  before,  was  educated  purely  in  Indian  fashion. 
Her  father  gave  his  consent,  and  at  the  fort  they  were 
married  by  the  chaplain  ;  but  this  ceremony  was  to  the 
ignorant  maiden  utterly  meaningless,  nor  could  even 
her  father  persuade  her  of  its  legality,  and  she  refused 
even  to  look  at  her  husband,  who,  not  understanding 
her  prejudice,  feared  she  had  been  influenced  through 
coercion  to  become  his  wife,  but  was  assured  by  her 
father  that  no  persuasions  had  been  used ;  and,  as  the 
girl  could  not  speak  in  English,  the  cause  of  her  grief 
was  peculiarly  mysterious  to  the  young  officer,  who 
had  supposed  she  would  be  happy.  He  endeavored 
to  convince  her  of  his  love,  and  to  awaken  a  corre 
sponding  degree  of  regard  in  her  bosom.  Finally  he 
resorted  to  every  device  that  knowledge  of  Indian 
character  could  suggest  to  his  mind.  He  bought  her 
clothes,  fruits,  wines,  etc.,  engaged  handsome  rooms, 
supplied  them  with  costly  furniture,  and  introduced 
pleasant  company.  All  her  presents  she  religiously 
divided  with  her  parents,  in  this  way  spoiling  every 
thing  he  gave  her ;  for  it  was  not  to  give  one  of  two 
articles,  but  the  half  of  each.  Thus  all  the  bottles  of 
wine  were  opened,  as  was  each  can  of  fruit,  and  all 
her  dress  patterns  were  divided  into  two  pieces. 

Some  months  before,  a  wealthy  chief  had  offered  his 
son,  whom  she  had  accepted,  but  her  father  interfered, 


OK,    LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  199 

and,  though  twenty  ponies  were  brought  to  his  door 
as  a  price  for  his  daughter,  he  refused  to  let  her  go, 
his  ambition  being  to  see  her  the  wife  of  a  white  man, 
and  now  a  white  man  had  married  her ;  but  she  was 
not  a  happy  wife.  Three  days  she  sat  upon  the  floor, 
veiled  and  in  silence,  to  the  utter  surprise  of  every 
person,  and  the  grief  and  discouragement  of  her  hus 
band,  who  feared  she  loved  the  young  Indian  her 
father  had  rejected.  Finally,  however,  in  answer  to 
his  repeated  inquiries,  she  told  him  she  was  her 
mother's  child,  and  not  his  wife;  for  he  had  given 
nothing  to  her  father  for  her. 

Very  joyfully  the  young  husband  sprang  away  in 
quest  of  a  horse,  which  he  presented  to  the  bride's 
father,  thus  quite  satisfying  her  scruples  and  making 
her  happy,  as  well  as  himself,  for  he  was  relieved  to 
know  that  his  wife's  misery  was  caused  only  by  the 
nonfulfilment  of  a  native  ceremony. 

I  am  persuaded  that  the  squaw  is  a  slave  to  her 
husband  and  father  through  the  influence  of  coercion, 
because  when  she  is  married  to  a  white  man  she  claims 
her  rights,  and  obstinately  insists  upon  having  them. 
In  resignation  and  ignorance  she  serves  her  Indian 
lord,  without  ever  dreaming  of  any  reform  in  her 
hard  lot. 

When  the  body  of  an  enemy  is  found,  the  honor  of 
having  killed  the  person  is  bestowed  upon  the  finder, 
even  if  the  deceased  has  died  naturally,  and  the  body 
lain  for  months  in  its  decaying  condition.  If  a  woman 
finds  the  body  of  a  person,  the  glory  passes  over  to  her 
husband. 


200  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

When  Indians  are  pursued  closely,  they  evince  a 
desperate  and  reckless  desire  to  save  themselves,  with  - 
out  regard  to  friends  or  property.  Mothers  will  throw 
away  their  infants  when  they  impede  their  flight,  and 
all  instinct  seems  lost  but  that  of  fear.  In  an  attack, 
the  post  of  fame  consists  in  the  distinction  of  being 
foremost. 

Scalping,  to  the  Indian,  is  a  surgical  rapture,  which 
he  performs  with  a  dexterity  and  aptitude  proving 
his  love  for  the  art.  The  left  hand  grasps  the  hair, 
and  a  few  well-directed  strokes  of  the  knife  separate 
the  skin  from  the  head  ;  then  the  memento  of  victory 
is  carefully  preserved  and  exhibited  to  increase  the 
enthusiasm  and  valor  in  the  hearts  of  the  young  men. 
Indeed,  the  effect  upon  the  minds  of  their  youth  seems 
to  be  the  object  of  nearly  all  the  hateful  ceremonies 
of  Indian  amusements. 

Dancing  is  very  much  practised  among  the  Sioux 
Indians,  as  well  as  among  all  other  barbarous  people. 
In  dancing,  the  Sioux  have  several  distinct  religious 
ceremonies  —  the  scalp  dance,  corn  dance,  bull  dance, 
war  dance,  pipe  or  peace  dance,  etc.  The  scalp  dance 
is  given  in  celebration  of  a  victory,  and  is  always  per 
formed  in  the  night  by  the  light  of  huge  fires  or 
torches.  When  a  war  party  returns  from  a  foraging 
expedition,  bringing  home  in  triumph  scalps  of  an 
enemy,  those  that  feel  inclined  to  rejoice  collect 
together  in  a  circle.  The  braves  come  vauntingly 
forth  with  the  most  extravagant  boasts  of  their  won 
derful  powers  and  courage  in  war,  at  the  same  time 


OR,  LIFE    AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  201 

brandishing  weapons  in  their  hands  with  the  most 
fearful  contortions  and  threatening^.  A  number  of 
young  women  are  generally  selected  to  aid,  though 
they  do  not  actually  join  in  the  dance;  however,  if 
they  feel  like  dancing,  the  privilege  is  not  denied 
them ;  but  it  is  their  duty  to  hold  aloft  the  scalps, 
while  the  warriors  jump  around  in  a  circle  brandish 
ing  their  weapons,  and  barking  and  yelping  in  a  most 
frightful  manner,  all  jumping  upon  both  feet  at  the 
same  time,  with  simultaneous  stamping  and  motions 
with  their  weapons,  keeping  exact  time.  Their  ges 
tures  impress  one  as  if  they  were  actually  cutting  and 
carving  each  other  to  pieces  as  they  utter  their  sharp, 
short  yelps.  They  become  furious  as  they  grow  more 
excited,  until  each  face  is  distorted  to  the  utmost;  their 
glaring  eyes  protrude  with  a  fiendish,  indescribable  ap 
pearance,  while  they  snap  and  grind  their  teeth,  and 
the  white  foam  gathers  around  their  mouths,  and  they 
actually  breathe  through  their  inflated  nostrils  the 
hissing  sound  of  death  in  battle.  Furious  and  faster 
grows  the  stamping,  until  the  sight  is  more  like  a  pic 
ture  of  fiends  in  a  carnival  of  battle,  than  anything 
else  to  which  the  scene  can  be  compared.  No  de 
scription  can  fully  convey  the  terrible  sight  in  all 
its  fearful  barbarity,  as  the  bloody  trophies  of  their 
victory  are  brandished  aloft  in  the  light  of  the  flicker 
ing  blaze,  and  their  distorted  forms  are  half  concealed 
by  darkness. 

Frantically  seizing   imaginary  victims,  they  affect 
to  execute  in  furious  excitement  the  most  fiendish 


202  THE    CAPTURE    AXD   ESCAPE. 

torture  upon  them,  while  the  air  is  filled  with  the 
sound  of  their  yelps  and  screams. 

The  precise  object  for  which  the  scalp  is  taken  is 
exultation,  and  proof  of  valor  and  success;  but  the 
motive  for  this  ceremony  is  a  subject  not  yet  satisfac 
torily  settled  among  those  who  have  studied  the  Indian 
character. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  one  object  is  public  exulta 
tion,  yet  there  is  conclusive  evidence  that  there  are 
other  and  weighty  motives  for  thus  formally  display 
ing  the  scalp.  Mr.  Catlin  says  among  some  tribes  it 
is  customary  to  bury  the  scalps  after  this  public  ex 
hibition,  which  has,  to  a  certain  extent,  been  held  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  them  notoriety  and  of  awarding 
public  credit  to  the  person  or  persons  who  obtained 
the  scalps,  and  from  a  custom  of  the  tribe  who  are 
about  fco  part  from  them  forever.  The  respect  which 
is  paid  to  scalps  while  they  are  in  the  Indians'  posses 
sion,  as  well  as  the  mournful  songs  which  they  howl 
to  the  memory  of  their  unfortunate  victims,  with  the 
precise  care  and  solemnity  with  which  they  afterward 
bury  the  scalp,  sufficiently  convinces  him  that  they 
have  a  superstitious  dread  of  the  spirits  of  their  slain 
enemies,  and  believe  they  have  certain  conciliatory 
offices  to  perform  to  insure  their  own  peace. 


CHAPTER  XY. 

BULL  DANCE. 

THE  Bull  Dance  is  one  of  the  greatest  religious 
ceremonies  of  the  Mandans,  and  one  through 
which  every  young  man  must  pass  before  he  is  ad 
mitted  to  the  dignity  of  a  brave.  These  rites  are 
held  annually,  and  are  looked  forward  to  with  much 
interest. 

The  great  mystery-lodge  is  opened,  strewn  with 
herbs  and  boughs,  and  adorned  with  buffalo  and 
human  skulls.  During  the  first  day,  a  mysterious  per 
son  known  as  the  first  and  only  man,  passes  from  one 
lodge  to  another,  relating  what  has  happened  on  the 
surface  of  the  earth  by  the  overflowing  of  the  waters, 
affirming  that  he  was  the  only  person  saved  from  that 
fearful  calamity;  that  he  landed  his  big  canoe  on  a 
high  mountain  in  the  west,  where  he  now  resides ; 
that  he  had  come  to  open  the  medicine-lodge,  which 
must  need  presents  in  the  shape  of  edged  tools  from 
the  owner  of  every  lodge,  that  they  may  be  sacrificed 
to  the  spirit  of  the  waters.  If  this  is  not  done,  there 
will  be  another  flood,  and  none  will  escape  its  destruc 
tion,  as  it  was  with  such  tools  that  the  big  canoe  was 
made.  The  implements  are  always  given  and  de 
posited  in  the  medicine-lodge.  During  the  night  no 


204       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

one  is  able  to  ascertain  where  the  strange  being  sleeps, 
and  silence  reigns  through  the  village.  On  the  fol 
lowing  morning  he  again  appears,  followed  by  the 
young  men  candidates  for  the  ordeal,  who  enter  with 
this  mysterious  person  into  the  medicine-lodge,  where 
they  remain  four  days,  praying  and  fasting,  and  hold 
ing  no  communication  with  outsiders.  Meanwhile 
the  bull  dance  takes  place  in  the  village.  Catlin  thus 
describes  the  scene : 

"  This  very  curious  and  exceedingly  grotesque  part 
of  their  performance  —  one  of  the  avowed  objects  for 
which  they  hold  this  annual  fete,  and  to  the  strict 
observance  of  which  they  attribute  the  coming  of  the 
buffaloes  to  supply  them  with  food  during  the  ap 
proaching  season  —  is  repeated  four  times  during  the 
first  day,  eight  times  on  the  second,  twelve  times  on 
the  third,  and  sixteen  times  on  the  fourth  day,  and 
always  around  the  curb,  or  l  big  canoe/  of  which.  I 
have  spoken. 

"  The  principal  actors  in  it  are  eight  men,  with  the 
entire  skins  of  buffaloes  thrown  over  their  backs,  the 
horns,  hoofs,  and  tails  remaining  on :  their  bodies 
being  in  a  horizontal  position,  enables  them  to  imitate 
the  actions  of  the  buffalo.  They  look  out  through 
the  apertures  of  its  eyes,  as  through  a  mask. 

"The  bodies  of  these  men  are  chiefly  naked,  and  all 
painted  in  the  most  extraordinary  manner,  with  the 
nicest  adherence  to  exact  similarity;  their  limbs, 
bodies,  and  faces  being  in  every  part  covered,  either 
with  black,  red,  or  white  paint.  Each  one  of  these 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  205 

strange  characters  has  also  a  lock  of  buffalo's  hair 
tied  around  his  ankle,  and  in  his  right  hand  a  rattle, 
and  a  slender  white  rod  or  staff,  six  feet  long,  in  the 
other.  Each  one  carries  upon  his  back  a  bunch  of 
green  willow  boughs  about  the  usual  size  of  a  sheaf  of 
wheat.  These  eight  men  divide  into  four  pairs,  and 
take  their  positions  on  the  four  different  sides  of  the 
curb  or  big  canoe,  representing  thereby  the  four  car 
dinal  points,  Between  each  group  of  them,  with  the 
back  turned  to  the  big  canoe,  is  another  figure,  en 
gaged  in  the  same  dance,  keeping  step  with  them,  with 
a  similar  staff  or  wand  in  one  hand,  and  a  rattle  in  the 
other,  and  (being  four  in  number)  answering  again 
to  the  four  cardinal  points. 

"The.  bodies  of  these  four  young  men  are  chiefly 
naked,  with  no  other  dress  upon  them  than  a  beauti 
ful  kilt  or  quartz-qnaw  around  the  waist,  made  of 
eagles7  quills  and  ermine,  and  very  splendid  head 
dresses  of  the  same  materials.  Two  of  these  figures 

o 

are  painted  entirely  black  with  pounded  charcoal  and 
grease,  and  they  are  called  the  c  firmament,  or  night ; ' 
the  numerous  white  spots  which  are  dotted  all  over 
their  bodies  are  called  'stars/  The  other  two  are 
painted  from  head  to  foot  as  red  as  vermilion  can 
make  them.  These,  they  say,  represent  the  day,  and 
the  white  streaks  which  are  painted  up  and  down  over 
their  bodies  are  ghosts,  which  the  morning  rays  are 
chasing  away 

"This  most  remarkable  scene,  which  is  witnessed 
more  or  less  often  each  day,  takes  place  in  the  pres- 

18 


206  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

ence  of  the  whole  nation,  who  are  gathered  around 
on  the  tops  of  the  wigwams  or  other  places  as  specta 
tors,  while  the  young  men  are  reclining  and  fasting  in 
the  lodge  as  above  described.  On  the  first  day  this 
1  bull  dance 7  is  given  once  to  each  of  the  cardinal 
points,  and  the  medicine-man  smokes  his  pipe  to  those 
directions ;  on  the  second  day,  twice  to  each ;  three 
times  to  each  on  the  third  day,  and  four  times  to  each 
on  the  fourth.  As  a  signal  for  the  dancers  and  other 
characters  (as  well  as  the  public^  to  assemble,  the  old 
man,  master  of  ceremonies,  with  the  medicine-pipe  in 
hand,  dances  out  of  the  lodge,  singing,  or  rather  cry 
ing  forth  a  most  pitiful  lament,  until  he  approaches 
the  big  canoe,  against  which  he  leans,  with  a  pipe  in 
hand,  and  continues  to  cry.  At  this  instant  four 
very  aged  and  patriarchal-looking  men,  whose  bodies 
are  painted  red,  and  who  have  been  guarding  the  four 
sides  of  the  lodge,  enter  it  and  bring  out  four  sacks 
of  water,  which  they  place  near  the  big  canoe,  where 
they  seat  themselves  by  the  side  of  them,  and  com 
mence  striking  on  the  sacks  with  mallets  or  drum 
sticks,  which  have  been  lying  on  them ;  and  another 
brandishes  and  shakes  the  eeh-na-dees,  or  rattles.  All 
unite  with  them,  their  voices  raised  to  the  highest 
pitch  possible,  as  the  music  for  the  bull  dance,  which 
is  then  commenced  and  continued  for  fifteen  minutes 
or  more  in  perfect  time,  without  cessation  or  inter 
mission.  When  the  music  and  dancing  stop,  which  is 
simultaneous,  the  whole  nation  raise  a  deafening  shout 
of  approbation,  the  master  of  ceremonies  dances  back 


OR,    LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  207 

to  the  medicine-lodge,  and  the  old  men  return  to  their 
former  places.  The  sacks  of  water  and  all  rest  as 
before,  until,  by  the  same  method,  they  are  again 
called  into  a  similar  action. 

"  The  supernumeraries  who  play  their  parts  in  this 
grand  spectacle  are  numerous,  and  well  worth  de 
scription.  By  the  side  of  the  big  canoe  are  seen  two 
men,  with  the  skins  of  grisly  bears  thrown  over 
them,  using  the  skins  as  a  mask  over  their  heads. 
These  ravenous  animals  are  continually  growling,  and 
threatening  to  devour  everything  before  them  inter 
fering  with  the  forms  of  their  religious  ceremony. 
To  appease  them,  the  women  are  continually  bringing 
and  placing  before  them  dishes  of  meat,  which  are  as 
often  snatched  up  and  carried  to  the  prairie  by  two 
men,  whose  bodies  are  painted  black  and  their  heads 
white,  whom  they  call  bald  eagles,  who  are  darting 
by  them,  and  grasping  their  food  from  before  them 
as  they  pass.  These  are  again  chased  upon  the  plains 
by  a  hundred  or  more  small  boys,  who  are  naked,  their 
bodies  painted  yellow  and  their  heads  white,  whom  they 
call  cabris  or  antelopes,  who  at  length  get  the  food  away 
from  them  and  devour  it,  thereby  inculcating  (per 
haps)  the  beautiful  moral  that  by  the  dispensations  of 
Providence  'His  bountiful  gifts  will  fall  at  last  to 
the  hands  of  the  innocent/ 

"  During  each  and  every  one  of  these  dances,  the 
old  men,  who  beat  upon  the  sacks  and  sing,  are 
earnestly  chanting  forth  their  supplications  to  the 
Great  Spirit  for  the  continuation  of  his  influence  in 


208       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE  J 

sending  them  buffaloes  to  supply  them  with  food 
during  the  year,  and  are  inculcating  admiration  of 
courage  and  fortitude  to  the  young  men  in  the  lodge, 
by  telling  them  that  the  Great  Spirit  has  opened  his 
ears  in  their  behalf — that  the  very  atmosphere  all 
about  them  is  peace  —  that  their  women  and  children 
can  hold  the  mouth  of  the  grisly  bear  —  that  they 
have  invoked  from  day  to  day  O-ke-hee-de  (the  evil 
spirit)  —  that  they  are  still  challenging  him  to  come, 
and  yet  he  has  not  dared  to  make  his  appearance. 
But,  alas !  at  last,  on  the  fourth  day,  in  the  midst  of 
all  their  mirth  and  joy,  and  about  noon,  when  they 
are  in  the  height  of  all  their  exultation,  a  sudden 
scream  bursts  from  the  tops  of  the  lodges  —  men, 
women,  dogs,  and  all  seem  actually  to  howl  and  shud 
der  with  alarm,  as  they  fix  their  glaring  eyeballs 
upon  the  prairie  bluffs,  about  a  mile  in  the  west,  down 
the  side  of  which  a  man  is  seen  descending  at  full  speed 
toward  the  village.  This  strange  character  darts  about 
in  a  zigzag  course  in  all  directions  on  the  prairie,  like  a 
boy  in  pursuit  of  a  butterfly,  until  he  approaches  the 
pickets  of  the  village,  when  it  is  discovered  that  his 
body  is  entirely  naked,  and  painted  as  black  as  a 
negro  with  pounded  charcoal  and  bear's  grease.  His 
body  is,  therefore,  everywhere  of  a  shining  black, 
except  occasional  white  rings,  of  an  inch  or  more  in 
diameter,  which  are  marked,  here  and  there,  all  over 
him;  and  frightful  representations  of  canine  teeth 
around  his  mouth  adding  to  his  hideous  appearance 
as  he  utters  the  most  frightful  shrieks  and  screams, 


OK,   LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  209 

dashes  through  the  village,  and  enters  the  terrified 
group  which  is  composed  (in  that  quarter)  chiefly  of 
females,  who  have  assembled  to  witness  the  amuse 
ments  which  were  transpiring  around  the  '  big  canoe.' 
This  unearthly  creature  carries  in  his  hands  a  wand 
or  staff,  eight  or  nine  feet  in  length,  with  a  red  ball  at 
the  end  of  it,  which  he  continually  slides  on  the  ground 
before  him  as  he  runs.  All  eyes  in  the  village,  save 
those  of  the  persons  engaged  in  the  dance,  are  centred 
upon  him.  He  makes  a  desperate  rush  toward  the 
women,  who  scream  for  protection  as  they  endeavor  to 
retreat  —  falling  in  groups  upon  each  other  in  their 
struggles  to  get  out  of  his  reach.  In  this  moment  of 
general  terror  and  alarm  there  is  an  instant  check, 
and  all  for  a  few  moments  are  as  silent  as  death. 

"  The  old  master  of  ceremonies,  who  has  run  from 
his  position  at  the  big  canoe,  has  met  this  monster  of 
fiends,  and,  having  thrust  the  medicine-pipe  before 
him,  holds  him  still  and  immovable  under  his  charm. 
This  check  gives  the  females  an  opportunity  to  get 
out  of  his  reach.  When  they  are  free  from  this  danger, 
though  all  hearts  beat  with  the  sudden  excitement, 
their  alarm  soon  cools  down  into  the  most  extravagant 
laughter  and  shouts  of  applause,  at  his  sudden  defeat, 
and  at  the  awkward  and  ridiculous  posture  in  which 
he  was  stopped  and  held.  The  old  man  was  braced 
stiff  by  his  side,  with  his  eyeballs  glaring  in  his  face, 
while  the  medicine-pipe  held  in  its  mystic  chains 
his  Satanic  Majesty,  annulling  all  the  powers  of  his 
magical  wand,  and  also  depriving  him  of  the  power 
18*  0 


210 

of  locomotion.  Surely  no  two  human  beings  ever 
presented  a  more  striking  group  than  these  two  indi 
viduals  do  for  a  few  moments,  with  their  eyeballs  set 
in  mutual  hatred,  defying  each  other;  both  struggling 
for  the  supremacy,  relying  on  the  potency  of  their 
medicine  or  mystery  —  the  one  held  in  check,  Avith 
his  body  painted  black,  representing  (or  rather  assum 
ing  to  be)  his  sable  majesty,  O-ke-hee-de,  (the  evil 
spirit,)  frowning  vengeance  on  the  other,  who  sternly 
gazes  back  with  a  look  of  exultation  and  contempt,  as 
he  holds  him  in  check,  disarming  the  enemy.  The 
charm  of  his  mystic  pipe  (on  the  power  of  which  hangs 
all  these  annual  mysteries)  has  been  thus  fully  tested 
and  acknowledged,  and  the  women  have  had,  by  its 
means,  sufficient  time  to  escape  from  this  fiendish 
monster. 

"  The  pipe  is  very  gradually  withdrawn  from  before 
him,  and  he  seems  delighted  to  recover  the  use  of  his 
limbs  again,  with  the  power  of  changing  his  position 
from  the  exceedingly  unpleasant  and  ridiculous  one  he 
so  lately  appeared  in,  and  was  compelled  to  maintain 
a  few  moments  before.  He  was  rendered  more  super 
latively  ridiculous  and  laughable  from  the  further 
information  I  am  constrained  to  give  of  the  plight  in 
which  this  demon  of  terror  makes  his  entree  into  the 
village  and  to  the  centre  and  nucleus  of  their  first 
and  greatest  religious  ceremony. 

"  In  this  plight  he  pursues  the  groups  of  females, 
spreading  dismay  and  alarm  wherever  he  goes,  and 
consequently  producing  the  awkward  and  exceedingly 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  211 

laughable  predicament  in  which  he  is  placed  by  the 
sudden  check  from  the  medicine-pipe,  as  I  have  above 
stated.  When  all  eyes  are  intently  fixed  upon  him, 
and  all  join  in  rounds  of  applause  for  the  success  of 
the  magic  spell  that  is  placed  upon  him,  all  voices 
are  raised  in  shouts  of  satisfaction  at  his  defeat, 
and  all  eyes  gaze  upon  him  —  of  chiefs  and  warriors, 
matrons,  and  even  of  their  tender -aged  and  timid 
daughters,  whose  education  had  taught  them  to  re 
ceive  the  morale  of  these  scenes  without  the  shock 
of  impropriety  that  would  have  startled  a  more  fas 
tidious,  and,  consequently,  sensual-thinking  people. 

"  After  repeated  attempts  thus  made  and  thus  de 
feated  in  several  parts  of  the  crowd,  this  blackened 
monster  is  retreating  over  the  ground  where  the  buf 
falo  dance  is  going  on,  and,  having  swaggered  against 
one  of  the  men  placed  under  the  skin  of  a  buffalo,  and 
engaged  in  the  bull  dance,  he  starts  back,  and  places 
himself  in  the  attitude  of  a  buffalo.  After  this  he 
pays  his  visits  to  three  others  of  the  eight,  in  suc 
cession,  receiving,  as  before,  the  deafening  shouts  of 
approbation  which  peal  from  every  mouth  in  the 
multitude,  who  are  all  praying  to  the  Great  Spirit  to 
send  them  buffaloes  to  supply  them  with  food  during 
the  season,  attributing  the  coming  of  buffaloes  for  this 
purpose  entirely  to  the  strict  and  critical  observance 
of  this  ridiculous  and  disgusting  part  of  the  ceremony. 
During  the  half-hour  or  so  that  he  has  been  jostled 
about  among  the  men  and  beasts,  to  the  great  amuse 
ment  and  satisfaction  of  the  lookers-on,  he  seems  to 


212 

have  become  suddenly  exceedingly  alarmed,  anxiously 
looking  out  for  some  feasible  mode  of  escape.  In  this 
awkward  predicament  he  becomes  the  laughing-stock 
and  butt  for  the  women,  who,  no  longer  afraid,  are 
gathering  in  groups  around,  to  tease  and  tantalize 
him.  In  the  midst  of  this  dilemma,  which  soon 
becomes  a  very  sad  one,  one  of  the  women  steals  up 
behind  him,  with  both  hands  full  of  yellow  dirt,  and 
dashes  it  into  his  face  and  eyes  and  all  over  him ;  and 
his  body,  being  covered  with  grease,  takes  instantly  a 
different  hue.  He  seems  heart-broken  at  this  dis 
grace,  and  commences  crying  most  bitterly,  when 
another  catches  his  wand  from  his  hand,  and  breaks  it 
across  her  knee.  It  is  snatched  for  by  others,  who 
break  it  still  into  bits,  and  throw  them  at  him.  His 
power  is  now  gone  —  his  bodily  strength  exhausted, 
and  he  starts  for  the  prairie.  He  dashes  through 
the  crowd,  and  makes  his  way  through  the  pickets  on 
the  back  part  of  the  village,  where  are  placed,  for  the 
purpose,  a  hundred  or  more  women  and  girls,  who 
follow  him,  as  he  runs  on  the  prairie,  for  half  a  mile 
or  more,  beating  him  with  sticks,  stones,  and  dirt,  and 
giving  him  kicks  and  cuffs,  until  he  is  at  length 
seen  escaping  from  their  grasp,  and  making  the  best 
of  his  retreat  over  the  prairie  bluffs,  whence  he  first 
appeared.  This  terminates  the  bull  dance,  one  of  the 
most  sacred  institutions  of  the  Mandan  Sioux." 

Mr.  Bollar   gives   a   graphic   account   of  the  bull 
dance,  as  practised  among  the  Indians  of  his  acquaint- 


OB,   LIFE    AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  213 

ance,  which  is  more  barbarous  than  religious  or  indi 
cative  of  courage.  I  give  an  extract : 

"  On  the  third  day  of  the  dance,  two  old  warriors 
emerged  from  the  medicine-lodge,  closely  followed  by 
two  young  men.  Going  up  to  two  stout  poles,  about 
twelve  feet  high,  firmly  planted  in  the  ground,  they 
disengaged  cords  of  raw  hide  hanging  from  them. 
One  of  the  young  men  knelt  at  the  foot  of  the  pole, 
resting  his  thighs  on  his  heels,  and,  throwing  his  head 
back  and  his  breast  forward,  supported  himself  in  this 
position  by  his  hands.  The  old  men  now,  one  on  either 
side,  with  a  common  butcher -knife  cut  through  the 
skin  and  flesh  on  each  breast,  and  thrust  splinters 
under  the  sinews,  attaching  the  thongs  to  them.  The 
other  young  man  was  quickly  served  in  the  same  way. 
Not  a  muscle  of  their  countenances  moved,  and  not  a 
sound  escaped  their  lips  while  this  painful  operation 
was  in  progress.  Each  rose  to  his  feet,  and,  throwing 
the  whole  weight  of  his  body  upon  the  cords,  while 
the  blood  streamed  from  the  wounds,  tried  to  tear 
himself  loose.  One,  as  soon  as  he  was  left  alone, 
sprang  wildly  to  the  full  length  of  the  cord,  and  then, 
hanging  with  his  entire  weight  upon  the  sinews  of  his 
breast,  swung  back,  striking  the  posts  violently. 

"Again  and  again  he  swung  himself  oif,  and  around 
the  pole,  calling,  in  the  most  agonizing  tones,  to  the 
Great  Spirit,  and  praying  that  he  might  hereafter  be 
a  successful  warrior  and  hunter,  and  that  his  heart 
might  be  '  made  strong/  to  enable  him  to  bear  his 
present  sufferings.  After  being  self-tortured  in  this 


214       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE; 

way  for  some  time,  he  fainted,  and  hung,  to  all  ap 
pearance,  as  though  dead. 

"  The  strain  on  the  splinters  finally  tore  them  out, 
and  he  fell  to  the  ground,  when  his  relatives  came  for 
ward  and  took  him  in  charge,  carrying  him  off  to  a 
lodge,  where,  after  he  revived",  food  would  be  given  to 
him,  and  he  might  then  receive  the  congratulations  of 
his  friends. 

"  The  other  youth  uttered  not  a  word,  though  he 
was  quite  young — not  more  than  eighteen  years  old 
—  and  for  some  time  walked  around  the  pole,  shrink 
ing  from  the  fearful  test.  At  last,  having  nerved 
himself  up  to  it,  he  suddenly  swung  off  with  all  his 
strength,  and,  returning,  struck  the  post  with  such 
violence  that  he  also  fainted,  and  hung,  a  sickening, 
pitiable  sight,  with  the  blood  streaming  from  his  self- 
inflicted  wounds. 

"In  no  instance  can  the  splinter  be  pulled  out;  for, 
to  do  so  would  be  fatal  to  the  anticipated  beneficial 
result.  In  cases  where  the  sinews  are  very  strong,  it 
becomes  necessary  to  add  weights  to  the  person,  as  his 
own  weight  and  exertions  may  prove  insufficient  for 
the  task.  All  who  can  pass  through  this  ordeal  are 
regarded  as  brave  men,  strong- hearted  warriors  and 
hunters. 

"  The  fourth  or  closing  day  was  mostly  a  repetition 
of  the  third.  Those  of  the  young  men  who  had  not 
succeeded  in  tearing  themselves  loose  from  the  poles, 
were  dragged  in  a  circle  by  the  hands,  until  the  buf 
falo-skulls  or  other  weights  that  had  been  fastened  to 


OB,   LIFE   AMONG    THE   SIOUX.  215 

their  legs  were  torn  off  by  the  violence  of  the  race;  and 
it  has  happened,  more  than  once,  that  the  tough  sinews, 
defying  every  effort  to  break  them,  rendered  it  neces 
sary  for  the  unfortunate  sufferer  to  crawl  off  on  the 
prairie,  and  there  remain  until  it  had  rotted  com 
pletely  out." 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

THE  INDIANS'  SENSES  —  A  LEGEND  OF  THE  MORNING  STAR  — 
INDIAN  STOICISM  —  CHIEFTAINSHIP—  FATALISM  —  INCA  OF 
PERU  —  RED  JACKET'S  SPEECH  —  HUMAN  SACRIFICE  — 
SMOKE  DANCE. 

THE  Indians'  organs  of  sight  and  hearing  are  cul 
tivated  to  a  degree  of  perfection  that  sometimes 
leads  persons  to  associate  the  supernatural  with  their 
sagacity  in  detecting  sounds  and  appearances.  It  is, 
however,  only  the  natural  result  of  continuous,  careful 
training ;  and  trappers  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  are 
said  to  be  equally  as  apt  in  the  use,  if  they  do  not 
excel  the  Indian  in  the  exquisite  fineness  of  these 
particular  senses. 

When  not  in  immediate  danger,  the  men  are  quite 
unguarded  in  their  travels ;  and  as  they  have  no  com 
missaries,  but  depend  upon  the  game  they  can  procure, 
they  usually  separate  to  hunt,  and  travel,  through  the 
day,  in  small  companies,  always  arriving  at  a  desig 
nated  place  for  their  night  encampment. 

They  understand  the  rising  and  setting  of  the  moon, 
and  watch  the  stars  when  they  travel  at  night.  They 
name  many  of  the  constellations.  The  Sioux  have  a 
legend  about  the  morning  star,  which  is  rather  pecu 
liar.  They  believe  it  was  once  a  lovely  damsel,  who 

216 


THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE.  217 

pined  for  the  company  of  the  sun,  and  longed  to  go 
to  the  land  from  whence  comes  the  daylight.  Her 
brother,  a  great  chieftain,  was  anxious  that  her  wish 
should  he  gratified,  and,  by  an  invocation  to  the  Great 
Spirit,  Wakkun  Tanka,  succeeded  in  raising  a  storm 
of  wind  that  came  from  the  four  corners  of  the  earth, 
and  she  was  borne  away  in  it,  and  placed  beside  the 
sun.  In  love  and  remembrance  of  her  people,  she  comes 
each  morning  to  warn  them  of  the  approaching  day. 

Indians  seldom  indulge  in  outcry  or  invective : 
considering  submission  to  the  inevitable  a  virtue,  they 
practise  it  quietly,  seeming  to  depart  this  life,  even 
by  execution,  without  malice  or  desire  for  revenge. 
When  they  are  convinced  that  death  cannot  be  post 
poned,  they  prepare  to  meet  it  with  a  stoical  indiffer 
ence,  which  reminds  one  of  the  Hindoo  under  similar 
circumstances,  and  seems  to  be  a  part  of  the  fatalism 
that  constitutes  the  bulwark  of  all  savage  superstition 
and  religion.  They  seem  to  evince  philosophy  and 
dignity  at  this  trying  hour,  which  peculiar  feature  of 
character  has  won  the  admiration  of  many  persons, 
who  have  witnessed  their  death  by  execution.  The 
Indian  women  are  exceptions  to  this  rule,  for  they, 
unlike  the  men,  make  outcry  a  virtue,  and  indulge  in 
it  to  excess;  sometimes  putting  ashes,  or  other  irri 
tating  substances,  in  their  eyes,  to  cause  tears,  when 
sorrow  fails  to  produce  them.  At  the  death  of  a 
friend,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  squaws  to  wail  aloud, 
while  at  the  death  of  a  chieftain  the  air  is  filled  with 
the  sound  of  their  wailing  voices. 

19 


218 

The 'chieftainship  is  not  hereditary,  although  the 
eldest  son  of  his  highness  is  respected  as  an  under 
chief  in  honor  of  his  father's  power,  during  his 
parent's  lifetime.  To  obtain  the  position  of  leading 
chief  among  the  Sioux,  the  warrior  must  perform 
same  personal  feat  of  bravery  or  endurance  entitling 
him  to  honor  in  the  opinion  of  the  tribe.  Besides  the 
head  chief,  they  have  leaders  corresponding  to  cap 
tains,  lieutenants,  etc.,  who  are  selected  without  re 
gard  to  position,  but  for  good  judgment  and  discretion, 
and  are  usually  skilled  in  all  matters  of  custom  and 
counsel. 

The  medicine-man  is  generally  considered  next  to 
the  first  chief  in  rank,  and  sometimes  exercises  great 
authority  and  peculiar  skill.  He  is  prophet,  physician, 
and  teacher,  though  the  supernatural  power  of  vision 
is  not  exclusively  confined  to  him ;  for  all  the  aged 
men  believe  they  are  endowed  with  that  gift,  and  are 
firm  believers  in  dreams  and  the  gift  of  prophecy. 
The  medicine-men  depend  upon  herbs,  sweats,  laying- 
on  of  hands,  etc.,  and  many  instances  of  remarkable 
cure  are  reported  to  have  been  effected  through  their 
influence  and  skill,  and  it  is  an  undisputed  fact  in  the 
annals  of  botanic  medicine,  that  the  herbs  most  in 
esteem  in  our  country  are  the  result  of  disclosures  on 
the  part  of  the  aborigines. 

Their  surgery,  however,  is  lamentably  deficient. 
They  place  much  reliance  upon  charms  and  incanta 
tions.  Their  knowledge  is  limited  and  their  practice 
unfortunate.  For  instance,  a  case  of  swollen  tonsils, 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE   SIOUX.  219 

of  obstinate  character,  an  Indian  doctor  attempted  to 
cure ;  and  when  mild  means  had  failed,  he  seized  the 
palate  with  a  pair  of  bullet-moulds,  tearing  the  mouth 
and  throat  fearfully,  and  causing  death. 

Severe  wounds  are  sometimes  inflicted  upon  the  sick 
to  dislodge  evil  spirits  supposed  to  be  lurking  around 
to  the  disadvantage  of  the  afflicted  person. 

Small-pox,  and  all  other  contagious  diseases,  they 
hesitate  to  attempt  to  cure,  and  those  who  are  attacked 
generally  resign  themselves  to  a  state  of  apathy, 
making  no  effort  to  stay  the  progress  of  a  direful 
malady,  and  sometimes  great  numbers  of  them  die  in 
a  very  short  time.  This  I  believe  to  be  one  cause  of 
the  decline  of  that  people.  Surely  it  is  not,  as  is  so 
generally  supposed,  the  intrusion  of  the  white  people 
into  their  country,  for  they  still  have  a  superabundance 
of  territory. 

The  cause  of  their  decline  as  a  nation  has  been 
inquired  of  me ;  but  a  positive  answer  to  this  question 
is  beyond  my  ability  to  give ;  yet,  it  is  my  opinion 
that  a  correct  answer  to  the  question  is  indolence  and 
ignorance,  which  definition,  however,  extends  over  a 
vast  area,  when  their  whole  character  and  lives  are 
considered. 

Sometimes  the  medicine-man  attempts  to  cure 
diseases  by  incantations,  swinging  a  rattle,  and  chant 
ing  a  song ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  he  is  adorned  with 
the  emblems  of  his  art,  which  are  arranged  upon  his 
person,  for  the  purpose  of  impressing  the  mind  of  the 
patient  with  the  marvellous.  Really  the  entire  opera- 


220  THE   CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

tion  is,  to  a  certain  extent,  mesmerization,  or  a  sort  of 
charm.  Not  unlike  his  brother  physicians  in  civilized 
communities,  the  Indian  doctor  endeavors  to  confound 
the  people  by  an  unintelligible  language,  and  serious 
expressions  of  countenance,  as  a  substitute  for  real 
knowledge  and  skill,  thus  concealing  his  incompeten- 
cy  under  the  disguise  of  learning,  sometimes  to  the 
destruction  of  his  confiding  patient. 

Though  Indians  in  all  sections  adhere  to  their  own 
faith,  the  Mexicans  offer  an  example  of  a  change  of 
religion ;  yet  it  was  not  by  conviction  or  conversion, 
but  by  coercion. 

An  instance  is  recorded  of  Pizarro,  the  conqueror 
of  Peru,  in  his  invasion  of  that  country,  meeting  the 
Inca  Atahualpa,  and  endeavoring  to  convince  the 
monarch  of  his  error  in  religion.  A  friar,  with  more 
zeal  than  piety,  advanced  to  the  Peruvian  inca,  with 
a  crucifix. in  one  hand  and  a  Bible  in  the  other,  and, 
in  a  loud  voice,  began  a  formal  discourse,  explaining 
the  history  of  the  creation  of  the  world,  the  .fall  of 
man,  the  doctrine  of  the  incarnation,  the  death  and 
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  —  in  brief,  a  summary  of 
the  contents  of  the  Bible. 

The  barbarian  chief  listened  to  all  with  composure, 
until  the  harangue  was  finished,  when  he  ventured  to 
expostulate,  saying :  "  It  would  be  foolish  and  impious 
in  me  to  change  my  religion,  which  has  been  trans 
mitted  to  me  by  my  ancestors,  until  I  am  convinced 
that  mine  is  false  and  yours  is  true.  You  worship  a 
God  that  died  on  a  tree;  for  my  part,  I  adore  the  sun, 


OR,    LIFE    AMONGt  THE    SIOUX.  221 

that  never  dies.  As  to  the  story  of  the  creation  and 
the  fall  of  man,  how  did  you  learn  it  ?  "  "  In  this 
book,"  cried  the  enraged  priest.  Seizing  the  book, 
the  monarch  held  it  to  his  ear.  "  This  book,"  said 
he,  "tells  me  nothing,"  and  he  contemptuously  threw 
it  upon  the  ground.  This  disbelief,  and  disrespect  for 
the  Holy  Book,  was  a  pretext  for  slaughter,  and  the 
Spanish  soldiers,  filled  with  religious  bigotry,  covered 
the  ground  with  murdered  bodies  of  the  Peruvians, 
and  their  own  name  with  disgrace  and  shame. 

The  Northern  Indians  have  at  all  times  tenaciously 
adhered  to  their  own  faith,  and  have  expressed  a  great 
antipathy  to  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.  Although 
attempts  have  been  repeatedly  made  to  Christianize 
them,  they  have  been  futile,  or  attended  with  but 
little  success,  and  oftentimes  the  result  has  been  the 
reverse  of  the  anticipated  benefit,  and  still  further 
degradation  in  morals  has  followed  these  endeavors. 
Those  whose  experience  has  been  the  most  extensive 
and  varied,  testify  to  the  fact  that  the  wild  Indian  is 
much  superior  to  his  half-civilized  brother,  both  in 
morality  and  sentiment. 

Red  Jacket  expressed  his  opinion  upon  religion  in 
reply  to  a  missionary  who  came  to  instruct  him  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Bible,  and  it  may  not  be  inappropriate 
to  insert  it  in  this  connection : 

"  Friends  and  brothers,  it  is  the  will  of  the  Great 

Spirit  that  we  should  meet  together  this   day.     He 

orders  all  things,  and  has  given  us  a  fine  day  for  the 

council.     He  has  taken  His  garments  from  before  the 

19* 


THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE 


sun  and  caused  it  to  shine  with  brightness  upon  us. 
Our  eyes  are  opened  that  we  see  clearly  —  our  ears 
are  unstopped  that  we  have  been  able  to  hear  the 
words  that  you  have  spoken.  For  these  favors  we 
thank  the  Great  Spirit,  and  Him  only. 

"  Brothers,  this  council-fire  was  kindled  by  you.  It 
is  at  your  request  that  we  come  together  at  this  time. 
We  have  listened  with  attention  to  what  you  have 
said.  You  requested  us  to  speak  our  minds  freely. 
This  gives  us  great  joy ;  for  we  now  consider  that  we 
stand  upright  before  you,  and  can  speak  what  we 
think.  All  have  heard  your  voice,  and  all  speak  to 
you  as  one  man.  Our  minds  are  agreed. 

"  Brothers,  you  say  you  want  an  answer  to  your 
talk  before  you  leave  this  place.  It  is  right  that  you 
should  have  one,  as  you  are  a  great  distance  from 
home,  and  we  do  not  wish  to  detain  you  ;  but  we  will 
first  look  back  a  little,  and  tell  you  what  our  fathers 
have  told  us,  and  what  we  have  heard  from  the  white 
people. 

"  Brothers,  you  say  you  are  sent  to  instruct  us  how 
to  worship  the  Great  Spirit  agreeably  to  His  mind, 
and  if  we  do  not  take  hold  of  this  religion  which  you 
white  people  teach,  we  shall  be  unhappy  hereafter. 
You  say  you  are  right,  and  we  are  wrong.  How  do  we 
know  this  to  be  true?  We  understand  that  your 
religion  is  written  in  a  book.  If  it  was  intended  for 
us  as  well  as  you,  why  did  not  the  Great  Spirit  give  it 
to  us,  and  not  only  to  us,  but  to  our  forefathers ;  also 
the  means  of  understanding  it  rightly?  We  only 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  223 

know  what  you  tell  about  it.  How  shall  we  know 
when  to  believe,  having  been  so  often  deceived  by 
white  people  ? 

"  Brothers,  you  say  there  is  but  one  way  to  wor 
ship  and  serve  the  Great  Spirit.  If  there  is  but 
one  religion,  why  do  you  white  people  differ  so  much 
about  it  ?  Why  not  all  agree,  as  you  can  all  read  the 
book  ? 

"  Brothers,  we  do  not  understand  these  things.  We 
are  told  that  your  religion  was  given  to  your  fore 
fathers,  and  has  been  handed  down  from  father  to  son. 
We  also  have  a  religion  which  was  given  to  our  fore 
fathers,  and  has  been  handed  down  to  us,  their  chil 
dren.  We  worship  this  way.  It  teacheth  us  to  be 
thankful  for  all  the  favors  we  receive,  to  love  each 
other,  and  to  be  united.  We  never  quarrel  about 
religion. 

"  Brothers,  the  Great  Spirit  made  us  all,  but  He  has 
made  a  great  difference  between  his  red  and  white 
children.  The  Great  Spirit  does  right.  He  knows 
what  is  best  for  His  children.  We  are  satisfied. 

"  Brothers,  we  do  not  wish  to  destroy  your  religion, 
or  take  it  from  you ;  we  only  want  to  enjoy  our  own. 

"  Brothers,  we  have  been  told  that  you  have  been 
preaching  to  the  white  people.  We  will  wait  a  little 
while,  and  see  what  effect  your  preaching  has  upon 
them.  If  we  find  it  does  them  good,  we  will  consider. 
If  it  makes  them  honest,  and  less  disposed  to  cheat 
Indians,  we  will  then  consider  again  what  you  have 
said. 


22-i  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

<e  Brothers,  you  have  now  heard  our  answer  to  your 
talk,  and  this  is  all  we  have  to  say  now.  As  we  are 
going  to  part,  we  will  come  and  take  you  by  the  hand, 
and  we  hope  the  Great  Spirit  will  protect  you  on  your 
journey,  and  return  you  safe  to  your  friends." 

Mingled  with  much  truth  in  their  religion  is  an 
undercurrent  of  superstition,  which  contaminates  the 
simplicity  of  their  belief  with  deformity  and  crime. 
I  quote  an  instance  from  Schoolcraft : 

"  The  Iowa  Indians,  having  taken  prisoner  a  Sioux 
girl  of  fourteen  years  of  age,  resolved  to  sacrifice  her 
to  the  Great  Spirit,  or  rather  the  Spirit  of  Corn.  For 
this  purpose  she  was  placed  upon  a  foot-rest,  between 
two  trees,  about  two  feet  apart,  and  raised  above  the 
ground  just  high  enough  to  allow  a  torturing  fire  to 
be  built  under  her  feet.  Here  she  was  held  by  two 
warriors,  who  mounted  the  rest  beside  her,  and  ap 
plied  lighted  torches  and  splinters  under  her  arms. 
At  a  given  signal,  a  hundred  arrows  were  discharged 
into  her  body.  These  were  immediately  withdrawn, 
and  her  flesh  was  cut  from  the  bones,  in  small  pieces, 
which  they  placed  in  baskets,  and  carried  into  the 
corn-field,  where  they  squeezed  a  little  blood  into  each 
hill." 

Another  instance  of  their  barbarous  superstition  is 
told  by  an  eye-witness : 

"In  the  summer  of  1861,  a  party  of  Sac  and  Fox 
Indians  returned  to  their  reservation  from  a  hunt  in 
the  Arkansas  RiVer  country,  in  which  they  had  been 
unusually  unsuccessful,  and,  divining  the  cause  of  their 


OB,   LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  225 

misfortunes  to  be  lurking  in  the  person  of  an  old 
woman,  they  resolved  to  clear  their  tribe  of  the  har 
bored  evil  spirits,  which  caused  them  to  suffer  by 
being  unfortunate  in  the  chase. 

"  A  council  was  held  to  determine  the  mode  of  her 
death,  where  it  was  decided  that  she  should  be  shot, 
and  the  body  afterward  burned  to  ashes,  \vhich  would 
destroy  the  devils  or  other  malicious  spirits  which 
infested  it. 

"  This  decision  was  immediately  carried  into  effect, 
and  the  poor  old  woman,  who  did  not  doubt  the  wis 
dom  of  the  councillors,  nor  offer  to  remonstrate  against 
the  decree  that  decided  her  fate,  was  led  beyond  the 
village  and  executed.  It  Vas  truly  a  pitiable  sight, 
to  see  her  sad  countenance,  and  bowed  and  trembling 
form,  as  she  was  taken  from  her  home  forever.  As 
she  emerged  from  the  door,  her  daughter  —  an  only 
child  and  sole  remaining  friend  —  stepped  forward 
with  a  sorrowful  yet  resigned  look  upon  her  coun 
tenance,  and  placed  her  own  best  robe  around  her 
trembling  form,  with  the  only  words,  '  My  mother ! ' 
She  was  superstitious  as  the  rest,  yet  a  daughter's  love 
still  lingered  in  her  breast ;  and  though  it  might  be 
death  to  sympathize,  her  sorrow  was  apparent. 

" After  this  barbarous  ceremony  was  completed,  there 
was  a  season  of  rejoicing  and  hilarity,  in  which  time 
they  indulged  freely  in  copious  libations  of  spirituous 
liquors  of  the  most  poisonous  character,  which,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  observer,  contained  more  evil  spirits  — 
if  a  conclusion  could  be  arrived  at  by  its  apparent 


226  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

influence  upon  their  behavior  —  than  could  possibly 
have  been  confined  in  the  victim  of  their  barbarous 
superstition." 

All  heathen  people  are  superstitious,  yet  some  to  a 
greater  extent  than  others.  An  Indian  will  not  sac 
rifice  his  own  life  for  his  religion :  it  is  more  con 
genial  to  his  idea  of  propriety  to  sacrifice  another's. 
Nor  do  the  American  Indian  women  offer  as  liberally 
as  some  other  barbarians  do :  for  example,  the  Mogul 
women  offer  themselves  to  the  flames,  at  the  death 
of  their  husbands ;  and  there  are  others  who  immo 
late  their  children  to  their  gods.  Yet  the  squaw  be 
lieves  in  punishing  self,  and  making  great  outward 
display  of  grief  on  the  death  of  a  friend. 

"  When  other  means  to  procure  buffalo  fail,  a  white 
flag  is  hoisted,  bearing  a  rude  painting,  in  vermilion, 
of  the  sun  and  moon,  to  which  they  make  offerings. 
An  Indian  walks  in  a  circle  around  the  place  all  day, 
crying  and  praying  to  the  Great  Spirit  to  grant  them 
success  in  war  and  the  chase.  Near  by  is  a  small  pile 
of  human  skulls.  Around  each  of  these  is  bound  a 
cloth  of  bright  color.  The  lance  is  thrust  into  the 
ground  beside  them,  supporting  his  shield  and  med 
icine-pouch.  During  the  period  he  spends  in  this 
supplication,  he  does  not  eat,  nor  speak  to  any  one, 
lest  the  spell  be  broken,  and  the  great  anticipated 
benefit  be  lost." 

Their  sacrifices  are  evidences  of  the  savage's  faith 
in  God.  The  Sioux  Indians  are  a  religious  people, 
so  far  as  their  knowledge  of  Christianity  extends. 


OR;   LIFE   AMONG    THE    SIOUX.  227 

9 

Though  they  do  not  understand  the  teachings  of  the 
Holy  Word  a£  given  to  us  by  inspiration,  they  have  a 
reverence  for  a  Supreme  Ruler,  and  a  superstitious 
fear  of  the  wrath  of  a  Bad  Spirit.  Some  of  their 
sacrifices  are  offered  to  the  Bad  Spirit;  for  they  be 
lieve  it  is  safest  not  to  incur  his  wrath.  The  Good 
Spirit  they  believe  is  too  good  to  do  them  an  injury, 
but  that  it  is  the  Evil  Spirit  who  causes  their  mis 
fortunes. 

A  dance  called  the  buffalo  dance  is  practised.  A 
medicine-man  is  supposed  to  have  a  vision  regarding 
the  season  for  the  buffalo  dance,  which  is  apt  to  be 
when  the  buffalo  are  scarce  but  still  expected ;  and 
soon  after  he  goes  to  a  huge  butte,  or  other  elevation, 
and  begins  a  cry  and  prayer  to  the  Great  Spirit. 
This  he  continues  to  do  for  three  days,  fasting  all 
the  while.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  buffalo 
are  looked  for,  from  the  greatest  eminences  of  the 
neighborhood.  Silence  is  observed  as  much  as  pos 
sible  during  the  three  days.  An  unlucky  squaw  who 
happens  to  forget  herself,  and  undertakes  to  chop 
wood,  is  sure  to  receive  a  sound  beating.  Travel  and 
hunting  are  also  forbidden  during  this  time,  and  even 
conversation  is  avoided. 

If  this  medicine  brings  the  buffalo,  the  dreamer 
receives  a  valuable  present ;  if  not,  the  dance  is  com 
menced,  and  continued  until  they  do  appear. 

The  Indians'  amusements  are  varied  in  character,  as 
circumstances  require,  Dancing  is  much  practised,  and 
the  smoke  dance  —  an  expression  of  savage  feeling, 


228  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

• 

yet  of  kindness  to  each  other  —  ranks  among  the  most 
innocent  of  their  amusements.  It  is  performed  under 
peaceful  influences,  and  is  ceremonious  and  stately  in 
character.  The  Indian  women  do  not  smoke,  but  they 
prepare  bark,  which  they  procure  from  the  red  willow, 
and  substitute  for  tobacco,  and  they  get  the  pipes  in 
order,  etc. 

A  fire  is  lighted  beyond  the  village  as  preliminary, 
and  around  it  the  dancers,  who  are  usually  young 
men,  assemble,  and  seat  themselves  upon  robes  of  buf 
falo-skins.  A  chief  or  medicine-man  presides,  and, 
with  a  long-stemmed  pipe  in  his  right  hand,  bows  to 
the  east,  west,  north,  and  south,  saying,  "Take  it, 
Great  Spirit,  and  smoke,"  and,  at  the  same  time,  he 
offers  the  pipe  to  each  of  the  cardinal  points,  thus 
invoking  the  co-operation  of  the  good  spirits.  All 
believe,  when  this  is  done,  that  they  are  in  league  with 
the  spirits  of  good  and  evil,  and  the  pipe  is  passed 
around,  each  one  making  a  few  puffs.  The  chief  then 
begins  a  song  in  a  low,  monotonous  tone,  while  the 
next  in  rank  beats  upon  a  drum,  and  accompanies  his 
movements  with  a  song,  differing  altogether  from  the 
other. 

Under  the  inspiration  of  this  combined  song  or 
harmony,  a  brave  leaps  up  and  cuts  a  few  capers, 
bounding  and  jumping  to  the  taps  of  the  drum;  then 
seizing  a  companion  by  the  hand,  he  drags  him  to  the 
centre  of  the  circle,  where  they  flourish  around.  The 
second  dancer  soon  catches  the  hand  of  another  com 
panion,  who,  in  turn,  seizes  another,  and  the  perform- 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  229 

ance  is  continued  until  the  circle  of  dancers  is  com 
plete,  when  they  all  dance  in  unison. 

Their  movements  are  at  first  graceful,  but  they  soon 
become  animated,  and,  as  the  dance  progresses,  they 
grow  excited,  their  movements  then  being  wild  and 
grotesque.  They  leap,  and  fling  themselves  about 
with  reckless  abandon,  shaking  their  fists  in  each 
other's  faces,  mimicking  the  barking  and  growling  of 
dogs,  contorting  their  features  in  a  shocking  manner, 
making  grotesque  movements,  and  uttering  singular 
sounds. 

Meantime  the  chief  sits  calmly  smoking  in  the 
midst,  and  merrily  grunting  his  inimitable  song.  This 
dance  lasts  about  an  hour,  when  the  exertion  that  each 
one  has  endured  makes  it  necessary  to  close.  The 
signal  is" given  by  the  presiding  chief,  and  each  dancer 
yelps  and  barks  like  a  frightened  dog;  and  all  the 
voices  are  heard  through  the  night-air,  as  the  Indians 
retreat  to  their  respective  lodges. 
20 


I 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

"WARRIORS'  PRIDE  —  VENERATION  OF  AGE  —  CARE  OF  THE 
AFFLICTED  —  HEROISM  —  FATE  OF  DEFORMED  CHILDREN 
—  INHUMAN  TREATMENT  OF  A  CHILD  —  MISSIONARIES' 
EXPERIENCE  —  BURIAL  OF  THE  DEAD  —  CONDITION  IN 
THE  SPIRIT-WORLD  —  HUMAN  SACRIFICE  —  POISONING  OF 
SPRINGS  —  ACTION  OF  THE  ELEMENTS  —  MOURNING  FOR 
THE  DEAD  —  PERUVIAN  TRADITION. 

A  BRAVE  is  not  permitted  to  wear  gray  hair.  It 
is  one  of  the  numerous  duties  of  his  wife  to  pluck 
them  out  as  soon  as  they  appear ;  and  so  great  is  their 
love  for  black  hair  that  if,  by  mistake,  she  takes  out 
one  that  is  not  gray,  a  sharp  pinch  reminds  her  of  the 
error,  and  insures  more  care  and  closer  observation 
in  future.  Though,  as  a  general  thing,  an  Indian 
will  not  work,  it  is  said  by  persons  who  have  lived 
among  them  that  he  usually  combs  his  wife's  or  wives' 
hair  each  day. 

It  is  a  relief  to  find  a  gleam  of  humanity  in  sav 
age  nature,  and  their  respect  for  the  aged  may  be  cited 
as  one.  Unlike  most  uncivilized  people,  the  Indian 
is  respectful  to  the  aged  and  infirm,  exceedingly  care 
ful  of  his  sick,  and  patient  to  their  wants  and  require 
ments.  Despite  the  rugged  and  exposed  life  they  lead, 
there  are  comparatively  few  cripples  and  deformed 
persons  among  them.  It  is  said,  however,  that  de- 

230 


THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE.  231 

formed  infants  are  regarded  as  unprofitable  and  a  curse 
from  the  Great  Spirit,  and  disposed  of  by  death  imme 
diately  after  their  birth.  In  some  instances,  when  a 
daughter  is  born,  instead  of  a  desired  son,  she  shares 
the  same  fate.  An  instance  of  this  came  under  my 
observation  at  Fort  Laramie.  Sometimes,  at  the  death 
of  a  mother,  the  infant  is  also  interred.  A  story  to 
this  effect  is  related  by  Mr.  Boiler : 

"A  whole  family  had  been  carried  off  by  small-pox, 
except  an  infant.  Those  who  were  not  sick  had  as 
much  to  do  as  they  could  conveniently  attend  to,  con 
sequently  there  was  no  one  willing  to  take  charge  of 
the  little  orphan.  It  was  placed  in  the  arms  of  its 
dead  mother,  enveloped  in  blankets  and  a  buffalo-robe, 
and  laid  upon  a  scaffold  in  their  burying-ground.  Its 
cries  were  heard  for  some  time,  but  at  last  they  grew 
fainter,  and  finally  were  stilled  altogether  in  the  cold 
embrace  of  death,  with  the  north  wind  sounding  its 
requiem,  and  the  wolves  howling  in  the  surrounding 
gloom  —  a  fitting  dirge  for  so  sad  a  fate.  Never 
again  would  that  mother  and  her  child  be  sepa 
rated." 

There  are  not  wanting  examples  of  numerous  noble 
and  self-sacrificing  men,  who  have  endeavored  to  lead 
these  heathen  to  the  true  light;  but  they  have  been 
poorly  rewarded  for  their  pains. 

The  plan  of  adopting  and  educating  little  Indian 
boys  in  the  precepts  of  Christianity  has  been  attempted 
by  many  of  those  good  people,  but  without  success. 

I  remember  of  a  noble  effort,  near  Fort  Deer-Creek, 


232  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE  ; 

on  the  part  of  two  missionaries  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  Germans  by  birth,  who  had  been  for  several 
years  among  the  savages,  striving,  with  worthy  zeal, 
to  inculcate  the  doctrines  of  the  apostles  into  their 
heathen  breasts,  but  in  which  they  were  singularly 
unsuccessful.  They  had  adopted  several  little  boys, 
who  sickened  and  died  just  when  their  progress  gave 
promise  of  success  ;  and  only  one  was  left.  Yet  they 
toiled  on  in  the  good  but  unrewarded  labor,  that 
appeared,  as  the  barren  fig-tree,  to  yield  no  fruit.  Per 
haps  their  inward  light  showed  them  a  clearer  hope 
than  outward  observation  supplied ;  and  they  perse 
vered,  mindful  of  the  blessed  promise,  "  Be  not  weary 
in  well-doing,  for  in  due  time  ye  shall  reap  if  ye  faint 
not." 

The  Sioux  seldom  leave  their  sick  behind  when  they 
proceed  upon  hunting  excursions  —  as  the  families  go, 
that  the  women  may  dress  the  meat;  and  as  they 
remain  away,  sometimes,  for  months,  it  is  an  avoid 
ance  of  the  transportation  of  a  goodly  portion  of  their 
game.  And  invariably,  in  their  migrations,  the  sick 
and  aged  are  taken  along,  regardless  of  the  discomforts 
of  haste ;  and  they  always  endeavor  to  bear  away  their 
wounded  and  dead  from  the  battle-field.  If  heroism 
is  shown  in  Indian  life,  it  is  when  the  storm  of  combat 
gathers,  and  the  dark  cloud  of  w^ar  lowers  over  the 
field  of  battle,  striking  their  warriors,  one  after  an 
other,  with  the  hand  of  death,  and  calling  out  the 
noble  qualities  of  their  nature,  as  they  fearlessly  ex 
pose  themselves  to  danger  and  peril  to  secure  a  fellow- 


OR,    LIFE   AMONG    THE   SIOUX.  233 

companion  from  the  hands  of  an  enemy,  uttering  the 
startling  war-cry  of  defiance,  as  they  proudly  bear  him 
from  the  field  of  slaughter  or  die  by  his  side,  which 
latter  they  have  not  anticipated  until  it  is  unavoid 
able,  and  they  yield  to  the  inevitable. 

When  extreme  age  shrivels  the  form,  drying  up  the 
blood  and  palsying  the  muscles,  they  assume  a  mum 
mified  appearance,  which  is  extremely  repulsive  —  all 
the  hair  gone  from  the  dark  skull-like  head,  the  eye 
brows  and  eyelashes  plucked  out,  the  unsheltered  and 
shrunken  eyes  apparently  gone  from  their  sockets,  the 
whole  face  and  neck  having  assumed  the  appearance 
of  a  mass  of  wrinkles,  the  figure  very  low  and  bent 
and  decrepit,  the  withered  cheeks  scaled  with  paint, 
and  the  shrunken  remains  of  life  and  animal  instinct 
huddled  together  in  a  blanket  or  buffalo-robe,  endeav 
oring  to  retain  a  spark  of  life  that  seemed  to  have  been 
kindled  in  a  mummy  of  a  past  century.  The  figure 
looks  more  like  some  distorted  image  of  the  imagina 
tion  than  a  human  being;  yet,  when  the  sound  of 
the  war-drum,  and  the  fearful  song  and  whoop  ring 
through  the  village,  aged  nondescripts  —  such  as  I 
have  attempted  to  describe  —  seem  suddenly  endowed 
with  vitality,  and  will  spring  up  and  join  in  the  war- 
dance,  frantically  yelling  and  screaming  the  shrill 
notes  of  the  battle-song  —  sometimes  recounting,  in 
broken  voice,  the  achievements  of  their  youth. 

Miserable  and  helpless  as  these  octogenarians  ap 
pear,  they  are  never  the  less  honorably  and  tenderly 
cared  for.  One  particularly  attracted  attention.  She 
20* 


234        THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE  ; 

had  been  paralyzed  for  a  great  many  years,  and  was 
still  the  object  of  unremitting  care  —  thus  proving 
that  the  religious  sentiment  enjoined  by  God  himself, 
"  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother,"  is  inculcated  by 
the  Divine  will  into  the  savage  breast  as  well  as  in 
our  own.  It  is  a  redeeming  feature  in  their  dreary 
lives,  and  compensates  for  much  that  is  harsh  and 
cruel  in  their  habits. 

The  Sioux  place  their  dead  among  the  branches  of 
standing  trees,  if  they  are  near  timber;  but  when 
distant  from  any  timber,  upon  scaffolds.  The  body  is 
wrapped  in  a  blanket  or  buffalo-robe ;  and  the  vari 
ous  things  necessary  for  immediate  comfort,  such  as  a 
cup  to  drink  from,  a  knife,  bow,  etc.,  are  placed  with 
the  body,  for  the  use  of  the  spirits.  The  ground  of 
a  favorable  place  of  consignment  for  their  dead  pre 
sents  a  revolting  appearance,  being  strewn  with  parts 
of  decaying  bodies,  the  skulls  and  bones,  in  all  stages 
of  decomposition.  By  some,  however,  the  bones  are 
buried,  after  a  certain  length  of  time.  The  mode  of 
burial  differs  in  almost  every  tribe.  The  Digger 
Indians  of  California  burn  the  body,  and  the  friends 
of  the  deceased  blacken  their  faces  with  the  charred 
remains,  and  then  bury  the  ashes.  In  some  tribes 
they  go  through  the  same  process,  except  the  ashes  are 
cast  into  a  running  stream,  and  carried  away -with  the 
current ;  while,  from  fear  lest  the  disembodied  spirit 
should  lurk  around  his  former  tenement,  they  ener 
getically  lash  the  air  with  long  whips,  to  drive  it  to 
its  spirit-home. 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  235 

The  Utahs  bury  in  the  clefts  of  rocks  overlooking 
the  cafions,  and  pile  boulders  around  the  body,  to  keep 
at  bay  the  beasts  of  prey.  When  their  chief  dies,  his 
body  is  buried,  his  arms,  etc.,  are  interred  with  him, 
his  horses  and  dogs  are  killed,  that  he  may  not  want 
for  anything  when  on  his  journey  to  the  land  of 
spirits,  and  a  hole  is  left  in  the  rocks  in  which  he  is 
enclosed,  and  food,  from  time  to  time,  is  in  this  man 
ner  placed  at  his  disposal  for  several  days  after  his 
sepulchre  has  been  closed. 

The  Osages  of  Kansas  observe  the  same  rule,  inter 
ring  their  dead  among  the  rocks,  sometimes,  however, 
leaving  them  upon  the  ground,  and  covering  them 
with  earth  and  bark,  and  leaving  food  at  the  grave. 
If  a  warrior  dies,  his  horse  is  killed.  If  he  was  not 
in  possession  of  a  horse,  a  greater  supply  of  food  is 
left,  as  they  believe  it  will  require  more  time  to  go  on 
foot  to  the  invisible  hunting-grounds.  An  instance 
is  told  of  a  man  placing  food  by  the  grave  of  his  wife 
each  summer  for  thirty  years. 

Thus,  like  the  Parsees,  or  fire-worshippers,  these 
northern  Indians7  bodies  moulder  away  under  the 
action  of  the  elements.  The  Sioux  are  much  more 
grieved  at  the  death  of  an  infant  than  an  adult  —  the 
latter,  they  believe,  can  provide  for  itself  in  the  spirit- 
world,  while  the  child  must  depend  there,  as  well  as 
here,  upon  the  mercy  of  others.  I  do  not  know  if 
they  believe  there  are  servants  there  to  attend,  in  such 
cases,  or  whether  it  is  left  to  saints  who  were  more 
advanced  in  years  before  their  departure  from  this 


236  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

present  existence:  the  latter  possibly  is  the  most 
probable. 

Human  life  is  sometimes  sacrificed  in  their  zeal  to 
secure  comfort  for  their  favorites  in  the  spirit-land. 
An  anecdote  of  the  kind  was  related  by  a  traveller. 
This  man  was  in  a  village,  and,  when  passing  a 
chief's  lodge,  his  attention  was  arrested  by  a  low  wail 
within,  when  he  stopped  to  listen.  Presently  a  youtli 
came  out  sobbing  bitterly,  and  sat  down  in  front  of 
the  door,  covering  his  face  and  bowing  his  head ; 
several  Indians  were  walking  about  the  place  uneasily, 
awaiting  some  important  event.  A  slight  noise  was 
made  in  the  lodge,  and  soon  a  brave  emerged  from 
the  entrance,  with  a  gun  in  his  hand,  advancing  to 
ward  the  bowed  youth  with  a  look  of  determination 
upon  his  face,  and  uttering  an  exclamation  of  satisfac 
tion,  when  the  poor  little  boy  sprang  lip  with  a  piteous 
shriek  and  looked  around :  on  seeing  the  armed  war 
rior,  his  eyes  rested  upon  him  an  instant,  then  looked 
toward  the  snow-covered  mountains;  and  taking  his 
seat  upon  the  ground,  he  closed  his  eyes,  as  if  to  say 
his  work  was  done,  and  was  instantly  shot  through  the 
head  by  the  unrelenting  savage. 

When  in  war,  they  sometimes  poison  springs,  thus 
causing  great  destruction  among  the  game  as  well  as 
sending  death  among  their  enemies. 

One  very  peculiar  idea,  said  to  be  cherished  among 
Sioux  Indians,  is  that  of  a  thunder-bird,  which  they 
believe  soars  high  in  the  air,  beyond  the  range  of  hu 
man  vision,  carrying  upon  its  back  a  lake  of  fresh 


OR,   LIFE    AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  237 

water.  When  this  monster  is  angry,  it  flaps  its 
wings,  causing  wind  and  thunder ;  when  it  winks  its 
eyes,  there  is  lightning ;  and  when  it  spreads  its  tail 
and  wings,  and  swoops  toward  the  earth,  the  lake 
overflows,  producing  rain ;  and  in  cold  seasons  the 
ground  is  covered  with  the  detached  icicles  from  its 
plumage.  In  time  of  drought  they  suppose  it  is  ab 
sent  hatching  its  young. 


TKADITIONS. 

Peruvian  traditions  inform  us  that  about  three  cen 
turies  prior  to  the  arrival  of  their  Spanish  conquerors, 
and  at  a  period  when  the  inhabitants  of  that  country 
were  still  in  the  rudest  and  most  barbarous  state,  there 
suddenly  appeared  on  one  of  the  islands  of  the  Lake 
Titicaca,  two  persons  of  most  surpassing  beauty  of 
form  and  feature,  clothed  in  dresses  of  cotton,  an  article 
unknown  to  the  people,  and  its  whiteness  looked  to 
them  strangely  mysterious :  they  bowed  themselves 
in  reverence  before  the  presence  of  these  wonderful 
visitors,  who  called  themselves  the  children  of  the 
sun,  and  declared  that  they  were  sent  by  their  Bene 
ficent  Parent,  who  beheld  with  pity  the  miseries  of 
the  human  race,  to  reclaim,  instruct,  and  guide  them. 
The  persons  were  Manco  Capac,  and  his  wife,  who  was 
also  his  sister,  named  Mama  Oello.  The  simple  na 
tives  flocked  around  them  to  learn  the  import  of  their 
divine  mission. 


238  THE    CAPTURE    AND   ESCAPE; 

The  Peruvians  had  been  accustomed  to  regard  the 
sun  with  superstitious  reverence,  and  they  eagerly 
accepted  the  divinity  claimed  by  their  visitors,  im 
plicitly  obeying  their  commands,  and,  turning  in 
obedience  to  the  divine  instructions  issued  by  the  chil 
dren  of  the  Ruler  of  the  Universe,  the  multitude  lis 
tened,  believed,  and  obeyed.  Thus  instructed  by  the 
heavenly  messengers,  the  wild,  fierce  warriors  of  Peru 
laid  down  their  war-clubs,  hung  up  their  shields,  and 
turned  their  glittering  spears  into  pruning -hooks. 
Renouncing  their  roving,  barbarous  life,  they  followed 
their  teachers  to  the  banks  of  the  Apurrimac,  and  there, 
upon  the  fertile,  but  uneven  plain,  among  the  lovely 
gardens  reared  by  nature's  own  industry,  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  city  of  Cuzco.  Thus,  from  bar 
barity,  a  people  was  rescued  by  the  hand  of  supersti 
tion.  The  civilization  of  the  Peruvians  was  a  source 
of  wonder  to  the  Spanish  invaders,  whose  career  of 
rapine  and  plunder  obliterated  the  traces  of  the  religion 
of  a  once  happy  people,  and  covered  their  own  name 
with  infamy. 

The  form  of  government  was  a  patriarchal  des 
potism,  founded  upon  religion.  The  inca  was  not 
only  the  head  of  the  state,  but  a  messenger  from 
heaven,  and  his  commands  were  regarded  as  oracles 
of  divinity. 

The  Peruvians  of  the  most  exalted  rank  always  ap 
peared  in  the  presence  of  the  inca  with  burdens  upon 
their  shoulders,  as  a  token  of  inferiority.  Force  was 
never  nef  ssary  to  insure  obedience  to  his  commands. 


OB,   LIFE   AMONG   THE    SIOUX.  239 

As  writing  was  not  practised,  a  fringe  of  the  borla  or 
crown  was  a  token  of  authority  never  disputed.  The 
lives  and  property  of  all  were  at  the  disposal  of  the 
royal  will.  The  royal  race  was  sacred,  and,  in  order 
to  prevent  contamination,  the  sons  of  Manco  Capac 
married  their  own  sisters.  They  were  called  children 
of  the  sun,  and  descendants  of  Pachakamac,  the  deity. 

Indians  are  fatalists  in  the  full  meaning  of  the  term, 
and  firm  believers  in  the  presence  of  disembodied 
spirits,  both  good  and  evil.  The  reader  of  history 
will  remember  the  religious  character  of  the  Mexican 
and  South  American  Indian  at  the  time  of  the  dis 
covery  of  this  country. 

The  history  of  Mexico  furnishes  a  remarkable  in 
stance  of  superstition,  which  was,  no  doubt,  the  most 
potent  cause  of  the  unparalleled  success  of  Cortez  and 
his  daring  followers.  Montezuma  had  entertained  a 
singular  fatality ;  hence  his  hopeless  and  futile  conduct 
upon  hearing  of  the  landing  of  the  Spaniards  in  his 
territory.  It  appears  that  a  most  portentous  phenom 
enon  occurred,  in  the  appearance  of  a  sister  of  Monte 
zuma,  who  had  died  several  years  previous,  and  was 
buried  in  a  cave,  in  the  ancient  Hebrew  fashion,  with 
a  great  stone  at  the. mouth  of  her  sepulchre.  The 
story  of  this  supernatural  event,  which  was  firmly 
believed  in  at  the  time,  was  as  follows : 

"  Papantzin,  after  her  death  and  burial,  was  dis 
covered  by  a  little  child,  sitting  by  a  fountain  in  the 
garden.  Montezuma  was  summoned  to  her  presence, 
and  she  addressed  him  to  this  effect:  'After  I  was 


240  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

dead,  I  found  myself  suddenly  transported  to  a  wide 
plain,  which  appeared  to  have  no  bounds.  In  the 
middle  there  was  a  road  which  divided  into  many 
paths,  and  on  one  side  ran  a  river  foaming  and  dashing 
with  a  dreadful  sound.  I  was  about  to  plunge  into 
the  stream  and  swim  to  the  opposite  bank,  when  sud 
denly  appeared  before  me  a  beautiful  youth,  clad  in  a 
long  robe,  white  as  snow  and  dazzling  as  the  sun. 
He  had  wings  of  magnificent  plumage,  and  his  fore 
head  bore  this  mark.7  Here  she  made  the  sign  of  the 
cross,  by  laying  her  two  fore-fingers  across  each  other. 
*  He  said  to  me,  "Stop,  it  is  not  time  to  pass  this  river." 
He  then  led  me  along  the  banks  of  the  stream,  where 
I  saw  heaps  of  skulls  and  human  bones,  and  heard 
the  most  appalling  groans. 

"'  Presently  I  discovered  upon  the  stream  large 
canoes  with  wings,  filled  with  men  in  strange  dresses. 
They  were  fair  in  complexion  and  bearded,  bearing 
standards  in  their  hands  and  helmets  on  their  heads. 
The  youth  said  to  me,  "  The  groans  you  hear  are  from 
the  souls  of  your  ancestors,  who  are  tormented  for 
their  crimes.  The  men  you  see  in  these  canoes  will 
conquer  this  empire,  and  introduce  the  knowledge  of 
the  true  God.  Thou  shalt  live  to  be  a  witness  of  this 
great  revolution."  Having  said  these  things,  he  van 
ished.  I  awoke  to  life,  and  removed  the  stone  of  my 
sepulchre.'  Montezuma  was  filled  with  fear  at  this 
revelation,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  superstition,  he 
could,  by  vigorous  and  well-directed  opposition,  have 
crushed  the  Spanish  invaders,  and  the  name  of  Cortez 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  241 

would  have  been  transmitted  to  posterity  as  a  reckless 
and  incompetent  adventurer,  who  shared  the  fate  of 
Cambyses  and  Crassus.  Instead  of  this,  the  supersti 
tious  monarch  saw  the  prophecy  fulfilled,  and  met 
death  at  the  hands  of  his  own  subjects." 
21  Q 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SECRET  OF  INDIAN  COURAGE  —  SPEECH  OF  BLACK-HAWK  —  . 
EXECUTION  OF  A  M  AND  AN  CHIEF  —  QUESTION  OF  CIVIL 
IZING  INDIANS. 

IT  has  always  been  an  object  among  North  Ameri 
can  savages  to  inculcate  the  belief  that  they  are 
among  the  bravest  and  most  sagacious  people  upon 
earth.  Imbued  with  this  faith  of  innate  supremacy, 
and  taught  rapine  and  murder  from  their  infancy,  can 
it  be  wondered  that  they  frequently  raise  the  standard 
of  revolt,  and  over  the  vast  territory  of  the  West 
carry  havoc  and  devastation  ?  Without  finance  and 
support,  no  commissary,  or  resources  whatever,  chary 
of  life,  and  careful  of  ammunition,  they  resort  to 
treachery  and  surprise.  Without  baggage  or  hind 
rance  they  are  enabled  to  baffle  pursuit  and  trium 
phantly  mock  the  efforts  of  the  army  to  eifect  their 
punishment.  Swift  in  their  movements,  and  skilful 
in  their  surprises,  they  suddenly  appear  where  least 
expected,  boldly  driving  the  stock  from  the  Govern 
ment  posts  and  travelling  caravans.  They  defy  pur 
suit  with  their  rapidity  and  uncertainty  in  movement, 
and  shake  the  lance  defiantly  in  the  face  of  the  nation. 
This  apparent  immunity  from  chastisement  has  in 
spired  them  with  confidence  in  their  power  and  ability, 

242 


THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE.  243 

and  is  the  source  of  much  of  their  daring  spirit. 
Once  let  them  know  their  own  weakness  and  insignifi 
cance,  and  the  war-chief  would  become  a  myth,  and 
his  deeds  a  story  of  the  past.  The  Indian  would  sink 
into  listless  apathy  and  repose. 

Black  Hawk  expressed  in  the  following  speech  their 
position  in  his  own  words  when  he  said:  "I  once 
thought  I  could  conquer  the  whites ;  my  heart  grew 
bitter  and  my  hand  strong ;  I  dug  up  the  hatchet  and 
led  my  warriors  to  battle.  But  the  white  men  were 
mighty ;  I  and  my  people  have  failed ;  I  see  the 
strength  of  the  white  man ;  I  will  be  the  white  man's 
friend  ;  I  will  go  to  my  people  and  speak  well  of  him ; 
I  will  tell  them  the  white  men  are  like  the  leaves 
of  the  forest,  very  many  and  very  strong,  and  that  I 
will  fight  no  more  against  them." 

Thus  it  is  their  ignorance  and  vanity  that  causes 
much  of  their  futile  effort  to  turn  back  the  march  of 
empire.  They  strengthen  their  faith  by  unbelief  and 
incredulity,  refusing  to  hear  testimony  of  the  whites 
and  even  of  their  own  people  to  whom  have  been  given 
opportunities  to  ascertain  by  observation  the  strength 
of  their  enemies.  The  fate  of  the  Mandan  chief  illus 
trates  the  extent  of  their  prejudices,  and  the  confidence 
with  which  they  regard  their  own  power. 

In  the  year  1822,  Major  O.  Fallen  attended  a  dele 
gation  of  the  principal  chiefs  to  Washington — warriors 
from  the  Kansas,  Pawnees,  Ottoes,  Gros  Yentres,  Man- 
dans,  Omahaws,  and  other  tribes.  For  the  purpose  of 
showing  them  the  futility  of  resistance  to  such  strength 


2M 

and  power,  these  chiefs  were  taken  to  Washington,  Bal 
timore,  Philadelphia,  and  New  York.  They  took 
careful  note  of  everything ;  they  measured  the  length 
of  the  vessels  by  pacing  the  decks  ;  measured  the  guns 
of  the  forts  with  strings ;  also  took  the  length  of  some 
of  the  public  buildings,  etc. ;  and  even  attempted  to 
count  the  people  of  New  York  city,  and  keep  a  record 
of  their  number  upon  notched  sticks. 

On  their  return  they  ventured  to  give  an  account 
of  what  they  had  seen  :  in  every  instance  this  was  re 
ceived  with  incredulity,  and  in  most  cases  it  was  fatal 
to  the  chiefs'  reputation  for  veracity.  The  fate  of  the 
Mandan  chief  was  melancholy :  upon  his  return  he  ven 
tured  to  give  without  exaggeration  what  he  had  seen : 
"  The  white  people,"  said  he,  "  have  lodges  some  of 
which  are  a  hundred  paces  in  length ;  they  have  canoes 
fifty  paces  long,  and  they  will  convey  safely  five  hundred 
men ;  the  people  of  the  great  villages  are  as  numerous 
as  the  stars  in  the  sky,  or  the  straws  on  the  prairie." 
This  announcement  they  received  with  universal  dis 
belief:  some  of  them  rose  up  in  council  and  told  the 
chief  it  could  not  be  true,  that  he  had  sought  to  de 
ceive  them,  and  spoken  with  a  double  tongue.  In 
vain  he  protested  that  he  told  the  truth ;  in  vain  did 
he  appeal  to  the  Great  Spirit  in  attestation  of  his  ve 
racity.  "  You  have  spoken  falsely,"  they  cried ;  "  you 
shall  die."  However  they  may  practise  deceptions  on 
an  enemy,  they  strictly  adhere  to  the  truth  among 
themselves:  an  attempt  to  practise  deceit  upon  the 
tribe  is  held  to  be  an  unworthy  act,  degrading  to  a 


OR,   LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  245 

warrior,  and  a  foul  sin  against  the  Great  Spirit ;  it  is 
considered  that  a  man  had  better  die,  and  thus  put  an 
end  to  sinning,  than  live  defiled  by  falsehood. 

Proceeding  upon  this  belief,  the  Mandan  savages 
were  called  out  for  the  execution  of  their  chief,  whom 
they  had  in  public  council  pronounced  a  liar.  "  Sing 
your  death-song,"  they  said;  and  the  brave  chief, 
knowing  their  ignorance  and  custom,  sang  the  death- 
chant,  and  declared  his  readiness  to  die.  Several  In 
dians  then  fired,  and  the  soul  of  the  chief  that  had 
dared  to  tell  the  truth  passed  on  to  the  hunting-lands 
of  his  fathers.  Thus,  among  savages  as  among  the 
most  enlightened  people,  ignorance  is  ever  bigoted. 
Galileo  was  persecuted  for  asserting  that  the  earth  re 
volved  ;  Socrates  condemned  for  declaring  the  truth ; 
and  the  Mandan  chief  executed  because  he  asserted 
that  the  white  man  had  canoes  fifty  paces  in  length. 

The  Indians  that  have  come  mostly  under  my 
observation  are  Sioux  and  Cheyennes,  together  with 
the  Omahaws,  Gros  Ventres,  Pawnees,  Delawares, 
Shawnees,  Osages,  and  Kansas,  and  others  that  are 
settled  along  the  borders  or  on  reserves,  amid  the 
industrious  settlers  of  that  thrifty  State.  In  conclu 
sion,  I  can  but  say  Indians  in  one  tribe  are  much 
like  those  in  another,  bearing  a  marked  resemblance 
in  habits  and  customs.  In  courage  they  do  not  equal 
the  white  man,  notwithstanding  all  that  has  been 
written  to  the  contrary ;  while  their  conceptions  of 
policy  are  narrow  and  selfish.  The  Indian  of  to-day 
is  not  one  step  in  advance  of  his  ancestry  of  centuries 
21* 


246  THE    CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE  ; 

ago  ;  and  the  intelligent  American  must  blush  for  the 
contaminating  influence  of  his  race,  when  he  beholds 
the  copy  of  the  worst  sins  that  degrade  the  white  man 
exhibited  by  the  ignorant  Indian,  to  whom  his  supe 
rior  brother  has  been  apparently  a  missionary  of  evil. 

Perhaps  the  possibility  of  civilizing  the  savage  may 
be  questioned.  I  remember  visiting  a  Shawnee  vil 
lage  during  Christmas  holidays.  These  Indians  are 
considered  civilized,  and  their  villages  boast  of  schools, 
churches,  and  all  the  institutions  of  a  refined  and 
enlightened  community.  Many  white  people  reside 
there.  At  that  time,  I  remember  most  disgraceful 
scenes  on  New  Year  and  Christmas  days,  when  large 
groups  of  squaws,  violently  and  furiously  excited  with 
spirituous  liquor,  ran  through  the  streets,  blaspheming 
in  a  most  shocking  manner,  and  exhibiting  traits  of 
character  too  brutish  to  be  expected  even  from  their 
savage  nature. 

Two  years  later,  being  overtaken  by  a  storm  while 
visiting  some  friends  in  Kansas,  in  company  with  two 
brothers,  I  sought  shelter  in  a  vacated  house  in  an 
Indian  village  belonging  to  the  Sac  and  Fox  reser 
vation,  which,  though  well  built  and  commodious,  had 
been  deserted.  Its  roof,  too,  had  been  torn  off,  to 
furnish  tent-poles  for  a  summer  residence.  In  the 
floor  holes  had  been  cut,  through  which  to  sink  the 
legs  of  the  bedsteads;  and  in  a  like  manner  every 
thing  betrayed  a  desire  to  return  to  their  primitive 
habits,  from  which  an  attempt  had  been  made  by 
Government  to  withdraw  them.  Substantial  build- 


OB,   LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  247 

ings  of  stone  had  been  erected  for  them,  dotting  their 
reservation,  but  they  had  put  up  their  lodges  by  the 
side  of  the  houses,  and  stabled  their  horses  within  the 
nicely  plastered  rooms.  With  a  view  to  the  artistic, 
they  had  ornamented  the  white  walls  with  designs 
and  figures  representing  scalping  performances,  big 
Indians  on  horseback,  and  big  Indians  on  foot,  until 
the  walls  resembled  a  badly  damaged  map  of  the 
physical  geography  of  the  United  States,  with  the 
aborigines,  mammoth  bison,  and  in  short  all  the  mam 
malia  of  the  country  in  mortal  combat. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Freeman  gives  an  interesting  account 
of  an  effort,  on  the  part  of  the  Government,  to  civil 
ize  the  Pawnees.  These  Indians  inhabit  a  country 
bordering  on  the  Platte  River,  who  were  once  a  pow 
erful  tribe,  but  a  state  of  continual  war  with  the 
Sioux  has  diminished  them  to  a  comparatively  small 
tribe.  By  request  of  the  agent,  Major  Troath,  Mr. 
Freeman  visited  the  reserve,  situated  upon  the  Loup 
Fork,  about  twenty-three  miles  from  Columbus,  Ne 
braska,  and  found  it  occupying  the  site  of  the  old 
Mormon  village,  Genoa.  This  mission  was  located  in 
the  year  1857,  the  grounds  being  fifteen  by  thirty 
miles  in  extent,  and,  according  to  a  recent  census,  con 
tains  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  one  souls.  They 
receive  sixty  thousand  dollars  per  year,  and  this  is 
divided  between  the  school  and  the  business  interests 
of  the  tribe.  They  engage  in  agriculture,  and  practical 
men  are  employed  to  instruct  them  in  the  mechanical 
arts.  The  school  is  under  the  charge  of  Mrs.  Platte 


248       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE. 

and  two  assistants.  The  branches  taught  are  read 
ing,  orthography,  geography,  arithmetic,  analysis,  and 
penmanship. 

Mr.  Freeman  says  that  many  of  the  present  pupils 
have  been  in  the  school  from  two  to  four  years,  and 
have  attained,  to  some  degree,  a  knowledge  of  the 
English  language,  and  the  rudiments  of  education; 
but  when  not  in  school  they  immediately  return  to 
their  native  language  and  Indian  songs,  refusing  to 
speak  the  English  dialect,  except  when  in  the  presence 
of  their  teachers,  when  it  is  spoken  for  praise,  as  they 
are  extremely  fond  of  flattery.  They  are  addicted  to 
falsehood  and  theft.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Freeman  that  these  Indians  will  eventually  abandon 
the  apparel  of  civilization,  and  relapse  into  their 
original  wild  costumes  and  habits.  It  is  also  his 
impression  that  unless  these  pupils  are  kept  entirely 
away  from  the  wild  tribes,  where  the  influence  of 
religion  and  morality  is  not  felt,  all  benefits  from 
civilizing  them  will  prove  futile. 

It  is  melancholy  indeed,  to  review  the  history  of 
the  North  American  Indian,  from  the  days  of  Cortez 
and  Pizarro  until  the  present  moment.  The  aborigines 
of  this  country  are  fast  disappearing  —  not  becoming 
lost  in  the  people  by  marriage  and  intermixture,  but 
by  the  hand  of  death.  Like  the  buffalo  upon  which 
they  subsist,  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  their 
virtues  and  their  crimes  will  be  as  a  tale  that  is 
told  —  a  legend  over  which  the  future  historian  will 
ponder,  and  the  artist  draw  imaginary  portraitures. 


CONCLUSION. 

« 

IN  April,  1865,  after  a  residence  of  eight  months  in 
Fort  Laramie,  my  husband's  health  being  re-estab 
lished,  he  determined  to  proceed  to  Denver  City,  in 
Colorado.  In  taking  leave  of  Fort  Laramie  and  our 
many  new  friends,  kind  feelings  rose  in  our  breasts 
for  those  whose  consideration  and  politeness  toward 
us  during  our  stay  had  endeared  them  to  memory  in 
the  future.  Our  intention  of  crossing  the  country  to 
Colorado  became  known  in  the  neighboring  Indian 
village  some  time  before  we  started,  and  a  tragical 
ending  came  nigh  being  effected. 

The  Indians  were  considered  hostile  all  over  the 
country,  from  the  border  of  Kansas  to  Utah  Territory ; 
yet  a  few  still  lingered  around  the  fort,  who  were  con 
sidered  friendly ;  but,  as  the  Indians  of  the  hills  were 
always  cognizant  of  the  military  proceedings  at  the 
fort,  their  loyalty  might  be  doubted. 

Soon  after  our  arrival  at  Fort  Laramie,  twelve 
chiefs  had  visited  us.  Two  days  previous  to  the  day 
appointed  for  our  departure,  a  squad  of  soldiers  left 
Fort  Laramie  en  route  for  Colorado,  and,  believing  it 
safer  to  go  with  soldiers,  we  hastily  made  our  prepara 
tions,  and  started  with  them.  Our  journey  was  at 
tended  with  no  misfortune ;  but,  on  the  day  we  had 

249 


250  THE   CAPTURE   AND   ESCAPE; 

expected  to  go,  a  party  of  mountaineers,  with  whom 
we  had  intended  travelling,  set  out.  When  they 
stopped  for  dinner  they  were  surprised  by  a  large 
body  of  savages,  who  surrounded  the  train  and  com 
menced  a  vigorous  search  of  the  wagons,  using  harsh 
measures  and  threatening  violence  to  the  travellers, 
who  were  indignant  at  the  unexpected  attack ;  for  they 
were  known  to  be  friends  to  the  Indians. 

Among  the  company  was  a  German  family,  that 
had  resided  near  Fort  Laramie  for  several  years,  and, 
having  been  very  kind  to  the  Indians,  were  held  in 
great  respect  by  the  various  bands  of  the  country,  one 
of  which  had  adopted  the  lady  into  their  tribe,  giving 
her  the  name  of  White  Sister,  and  to  her  they  com 
municated  the  object  of  the  search,  and  expressed  their 
revengeful  feelings  toward  us.  At  length,  becoming 
convinced  that  we  were  not  of  the  company,  they  took 
their  departure  in  a  disappointed  and  ferocious  man 
ner;  not,  however,  until  they  had  received  a  large 
number  of  presents. 

As  the  angry  braves  dashed  off,  Mrs.  Forbes,  the 
lady  that  was  called  White  Sister,  communicated  to 
the  astonished  company  the  object  of  the  search. 

On  our  journey  to  Denver,  we  stopped  a  few  weeks 
at  Camp  Collins,  a  military  station  on  the  Cachela- 
poudre  River.  This  fort  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Evans,  who  received  us  kindly.  It  was  our  first 
acquaintance  with  any  persons  of  that  place. 

Soon  after  our  arrival,  General  Moonlight  arrived, 
jeing  en  route  to  Fort  Laramie,  to  take  command  of 


OB,   LIFE   AMONG   THE   SIOUX.  251 

that  district.  Having  been  acquainted  with  my  hus 
band  when  he  was  in  the  military  service,  and  be 
lieving  Fort  Laramie  would  be  a  good  place  for  him, 
he  urged  us  to  return  and  resume  business.  Hav 
ing  concluded,  however,  to  go  to  Denver  City,  we 
declined  the  kind  invitation. 

While  at  Camp  Collins  we  heard  of  the  death  of 
President  Lincoln,  and,  although  separated  by  dis 
tance  from  the  immediate  interests  of  the  great  strug 
gle,  we  joined  in  the  mournful  honors  of  the  time. 

After  arriving  in  Denver,  we  immediately  engaged 
in  business ;  but  not  liking  that  city  as  a  place  for  our 
home,  we  soon  left  it ;  yet  during  the  succeeding  years 
our  home  has  been  in  the  far  West,  and  our  interests 
and  affections  centre  among  its  people. 

Having  frequently  been  solicited  to  narrate  our 
experiences  with  the  Indians  in  the  order  of  their 
occurrence,  after  the  lapse  of  more  than  five  years 
I  have  endeavored  to  recount  them  in  a  plain  and 
unadorned  manner,  together  with  a  few  other  instances 
of  life  among  the  Sioux,  and  some  historical  facts  of 
that  people. 

All  that  is  not  the  result  of  personal  observation 
has  been  gleaned  from  reliable  sources. 

In  conclusion,  I  present  this  little  volume  to  the 
public,  asking  kindly  consideration  for  its  errors,  and 
trusting  that  any  deficiency  in  brilliancy  may  be  ex 
cused  in  so  unpretending  a  recital. 

My  unfortunate  friend,  Mrs.  Kelley,  whom  I  left  in 
the  Indian  camp  when  I  escaped  with  my  child, 


252       THE  CAPTURE  AND  ESCAPE. 

remained  with  those  Indians  four  months,  suffering 
all  the  privations  and  hardships  of  a  white  slave  with 
a  roving  band  of  hostile  savages.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  time,  she  was  taken  by  the  Blackfeet  Sioux, 
and  remained  with  them  some  time,  but  was  finally 
ransomed  at  Fort  Sully.  For  want  of  space  in  this 
volume,  which  is  already  larger  than  was  originally 
intended,  I  am  compelled  to  omit  the  particulars  of 
her  sufferings,  privations  and  ransom,  but  give  them, 
as  related  by  herself,  in  a  book  entitled  "  Mrs.  Kelley's 
Experience  among  the  Indians." 


THE    END. 


